^. 


^% 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


h 


/. 


:/. 


f/j 


1.0 


I.I 


|5C         


2.5 


22 

1^  mil  2.0 


1.8 


L25  |||||_U   ii.6 


—    6" 


y] 


o-m. 


^ 


% 


o 


7 


f 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Coiporation 


23  ^F.:T  M^'N  5TR5ET 

WEBSTER,  N.y    M580 

(716)  873-4503 


\^ 


i     €P. 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lt,i  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul6e 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□ 

D 

D 

n 


n 


n 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloure'-i  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  bHded  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  vVhentiver  possible,  these 
have  been  omilted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajcutSaS 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  ^td  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pay«:;s  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculees 


Q 


/ 


D 
D 
D 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piquees 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 


Showth  rough/ 
Transparence 


I      1    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 


Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t^  filmdes  6  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

SOX 

7 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Tha  copy  filmad  her*  hat  bean  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarotity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provinci&t  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'axamplaira  fllnf>4  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
ginArositt  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagas  appearing  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantas  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  I'exemplaira  fiimA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  ies  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbole  — »■  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  Ie 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'imagas  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Baagr«pjK>aiq^^!fy,^,ns>n^fl^SP™'t-^™80KXiff^^J!ff^ 


I 


mmwmmmm 


SiNOW-SHOES  AND  SLEDGES 


.1   HEQUF.L   TO 
-THE  FUR-SEAL'S    TOOTIV 


BY 
KIKK  MUNKOE 

AUTIIUK     OK     TIIK     "  MATKS  "     SICKIKS     "  DKItUK'K     STERLING" 
"IIIK    KLAMIMiO    FKATIIKK"    "  WAKUI.LA  "    ETC. 


t 


I 


ILLUSTRATED 


NKW     YOKK    AND     I,()NI)()N 

HAUPEU    .0    IJKUTHEKS    I'lliLISHEliS 

189'J 


9PJh 


'n.^ 


mmssK^m(mmi!fw^;>s^m!m^mmm^.mm^/^gl^ 


Hv   KIKK    MUXKOE. 


KAH>,  >  !KS.     A  Story  of  the  (Jrent  River 
CA  NOI.M  A  I'KS.     A  Story  of  tl,«  Flori.la  U....f  a,„|  Kver,-!.,!,., 
CAMI-MAiliS.    A  Story  of  the  Plain,.  ' 

DORVMATES.    A  Tale  of  the  Fishing.  Bank.. 

WAKrr.I.A.     A  Story  of  Adventure  in  Florid  , 

tiih;  ki.ami\(:(,  ikatiier. 

DKiaUCK  STERLING.     A  Storv  of  the  Min,. 
<-<mvSTAr.,.,ArK  .t  CO..„n,I  DELTA  mXT.V.   TwoS.ori,.. 

^  rr»,,,.„M,  r.v  HARPER  .v  BROTHERS,  Xkw  Y„kk- 
<■»  r(m/,i  ,.f  /„/,., . 


Copyright,  1805,  l,y  H.utrKu  .^-  RROTnKRs. 


.-!//  rijhu  reierreil. 


mmmmmmKwmm^ 


^'m^:iim^jm. 


;?'"  \'^  .  J  )  r.^i  .  J^3,^^^T/. 


ARCTIC   ALASKA 

Jin'crs  of  ice  and  a  sea  of  annio, 
A   vihlcriuss  frigid  and  irJiite  ; 

Mystical  skies  with  a  Inmnloiis  glow, 
Aud  dai/s  tluit  arc  tunud  into  iii(//,(. 


i\i-:.iiiil 


n 


^^t5aSMK^:rS»;i«,;i^HH;!i**i%,*iiS^ 


WM^iS^^M^: 


smmmrKtu 


COXTEXTS 


riT.U'TKR 

1.     AIJ.OWKD    TO    Sl'KAK     l-OU    THKMSFI.VRS      . 
ir.     A     DANdKUors     iiKKTir     Ol-F    JIKON     MOITH 

III.  MKASI.KS    AM)     Ml  TINV 

IV.  I'll  II,      ASSIMKS      CU.MMANl)      ANI»      ASSKKTS 

AITIIOKIT^- 

V.     A     I'AKSOV     AT    Till-:     WIIEKI 

VI.     KLOATIXd     ICK     AM)    "CIlv" 

\  II.     TUB    "('III.Mo'"    (;()i;s     INTO     WI.NTKK-ljlAKTK 
Vlll.     I.IKK     AT     AN     AIUTIC     MISSION        ... 

I.V.     I'lIII.'s    KSKlMo     MlMllA 

X.     A     SAD     KOMANCK     OK    TIIK     W I  LI)  K  KN  KSS 
XI.     TIIK     liOVS    C'AKKV     TIIKIK     I'OINT 
Xll.     I'llll,     FKKDS    HIS    UOOS 
Mil.     MISIC    OF    TIIK    «I.El)(;i;-I!KLLS     .        .        ,        .        , 
XIV.     WINTKK    TKAVKL    liENKATII     TIIK    AKCTIf    A '.   K 
X\-.     I'lMK    IIKAKS     FROM     Ills     FATIIKK 

XVI.     TIIK     mate's    STOKV 

XVII.    .JALAl'    fOOMIis's     FOl-RTKEN     I'AIU     OF    FEKT 
XVIII.     CHRISTMAS    ON    THE    TANANA 

XIX.     A     RATTLE    WITH     WOLVES 

XX.     CHITSAII'S    WTIRAL    TELKI'HUXE       .        . 

XXI.     A     VIKON-     MIM\(;     (AMR 

XXII.    THE     NEW     ARRIVAL    AT     hi)[VVY     MILE 
XXIII.     LAW     IN     THE     (i.)Ll)     DK.JGINGS      .... 


1II.> 


I'AfJK 

I 

s 
It 

20 
•27 
:J4 
40 
4() 
.■);] 
(iO 

or 

74 

<si 

ss 

9.-, 

102 

100 

11(5 

IJ:! 

1 2!) 

l;j() 

14:) 

l.-)0 


israwsflw^h 


vi 


f'ONlKNTS 


niAPTKH 

XXIV.     KEAl'PEAI!A.\CK    OK    THK    FT  R-sr:  A  l.'s    TOOTH 
XXV,     KKU(iK     DISCOVKItS     A     (TKIors    CANKltN      , 

xxvr.   ('A.Mi'ix(;   \\rii)   i'Ukiiisi'oiuc    donk.s     . 

XXVII.     LOST     I\    TIIK     lOliKsr 

XXVIII.  I'lIlL    ASSLMKS    A     KKSl'ONS  H!l  I.TI  V    .        .        . 

XXIX.     A     WII.I)Kl:XK.SS    Olil'IlAX 

XXX.  .lALAl'     AXI)    TIIH    DOGS    SIN(i     A     I.lI.I.AIiV  . 

XXXr.  XEL-TH    (jlALII-IKS    AS    A    liKANCIl     I'lLOT    . 

XXXII.  TIIK    ITK-SKAl/s  TCJO'llI    CKKATKS  A  SKNSATIOX 

XXXIII.  LOST    I.V    A     MorXTAIX    ISMZ/.AKI) 

XXXIV.  (•OASTIN(;     FIVK     MILKS    1 X     KIVK     MIXITKS 
XXXV.  HOW    JALAP    COO.MIiS    MADK    I'oliT     . 

XXXVI.  THE    MOST    FAMOIS    ALASKAN    OLACIKU       , 

XXXVri.  IHG     AM(JOK     AM)    TIIK     ClULKAT    IIIXTKUS 

XXXVIIf.  THE    TUKACIIKKOrS    SHAMAN     OF    KLIKWAN 

XXXIX.  INVADING    A    C'APTAIn's    CABIN    .... 

XL,  IN    SITKA    TOWN . 


I'AflK 

l.-,7 
104 
171 

ir.s 
1^5 

191 
15(8 
SO') 
211 
217 
223 
2:j() 
237 
214 
2.-)l 
2.-)H 
20.-) 


;:# 


m'.mottmmmmimmi 


PA  OK 

ir,: 

104 
171 

ir.s 
iyr> 

191 
1S»8 
205 
211 
217 
223 
2;}0 


237 


21-4 
2r,i 

20.-) 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


KUi:   A    MOMKNT    Till.;    SKNHA I  ION     WAS    .<ICKKMN(; 
KriKIMO    HIT,   MOUTH    OK   Tin;    VIKON 
■rillO    NATIVK    IMI.OT    ItKSniTS     HIS     I-OST 

"hkkk.  is  tiik  man  who  nil)  that  thinc" 

TIIK    AKUIVAI,    OK    TIIK     INKNOWN 

Al;l;iVAI,    OK    TIIK    IIOCTUK 

INDIAN     CIKI.s,    ALASKA 

'•CAP-N   IMIM/s   KAl.l.KU  .ioNK   IV  IMVKu!    VAAS,   UK   KADDKIl  !"     ^' 
THi:    KMIIHITION    IMIIM.    AT    ANVIK    .... 

MAKINf;    CAMl-    TIIK    KIKST    NKiMT    (.IT 

'■  Vor     KAUDKI;,    ^A  AS  " 

A     .MV     MOMKNTS     I.ATKK     ,„S     „o,;s     STAUTKH    AKTKU     THKI. 
VANI.'IIIll.   fOMI'ANIONS   . 

"kikmik" 

'■M.U/'.UIKI.    SKIUIK,   "AM.    MAKK   A    HASH    T0(;KTIIKU  I"' 
"WHV,      MATKV,      „oN-T      VOU       HKMKMIIKU       TIIK       OU.       nVM 


/■>"il<i'i;.|Vc(. 

r.ici 

nj  p.i.j. 

s 

a 

i( 

12 

u 

11 

18 

(1 

(( 

28 

It 

11 

12 

u 

u 

f)S 

;( 

ti 

tii; 

u 

11 

78 

It 

u 

St; 

u 

ll 

!)1 

'  ItKTSY  '  :•-" 


"THAT'S   A    I.IK:-SH0,-TKI.    TIIK    riMSONK.M.OAn.KKV  . 
KOU   A   S,NCH,K    MINI  TK    TIIKV   .AZKI,    IN     .KKATHI.KSS    AWK 
"COMK,  MAX.       ,OMK    WIK    NKI.-TK.        MAMMA    SAV   (X)MK  " 
"A    KLYINO-KISH-CATCHKR    KKOM    OM) 

y^Ol.L    A    MAN    DOWN  '."' 
""■'    ^'-f-^^:-^''^    TnOTH    CIKATKS    A    SKNSATION 


"  IOC, 
"  120 
"    120 


OMK 
IIONfJ-KONC YO    IK)  ! 


"  "      MO 

"  "    1.-.2 

"  "    17} 

"  "    180 

"  "    li(i2 

"  "    211 


>i 


vm 


IM.lSTlJATlnNs 


II, 


\TI(JN      (IK 


skk(;k  s    MKiiiii.')  DK  i,i(;iiTlN<;  a   hi;k     . 

.II'NKAi:     CllV,    AI.A.-KA 

TIIIV     WKUK     WKr.COMKI)     liV     TIIK     KNTnii;     I'O.' 

KI.fKUAN 

;.    CIIK.KAT    "  I'HINCI-.SS" 

i;()VK,l;N()ir«    MANSION,  SITKA,   ALASKA  .       . 

•'AI'NI'    ULTIl,  yoL'llK    A    lilUCK  I    A   I'Kr.FKCT    I!l;i(  li  I"  .       . 


I'lirinj  I'iijr   2  '  - 

"       •'    2  is 


mvissmmmmmtim^m 


!IM2S 


ifiteiiiMt«i*«i: 


/■'ttriitj  f 

■<:>' 

210 

ti 

•  i 

2  Is 

(( 

(( 

L'n  1 

u 

u 

'jr.c. 

u 

11 

'JCpC) 

u 

i( 

ii(;8 

SXOW-SIIOES    AND    SLKIHil-,S 


I 


CIIAI'TER    I 
ALLOWED    TO    SPK.VK    lo]\    TIIKMSELVES 

Of  course,  if  every  reader  of  this  story  liiul  also  read 
its  forerunner  there  woul<:    )o  no  need  of  introduein.r,' 
its  cliaraeters,  for  tliey  wouKI  already  l)e  oKl  friend.s] 
We  wouhl  merely  meet  them  at  the  place  where  thev 
have  been  patiently  awaiting  us  all  this  time,  f,-ive  them 
an  ene()ura,L,nng  nod  of  recognition,  and  tell  them  to  go 
ahead  with  their  adventures  as   fast  as  tliey  pleastMl. 
That  would  be  well  enough  for  us  who  are  accjuainled 
with  them;  but  to  those  who  may  chance  to  read  this 
.^ecpiel  without  having  first  read  the  story  that  gives  it 
a  reason  for  being,  the  references  to  people,  things,  and 
incidents  of  the  past  that  must  necessarily  be' made 
from  time  to  time  would  be  (confusing.     'J^herefore  it 
soeins  litting  that  those  characters  of  the  previous  story 
who   are   to  figure  with  any  prominence   in    this  one 
should  be  properly  introdueed  ;   and  in  order  to  avoid 
the  discriminating  ])artiality  of  the  author,  who  w.-uld 
be  apt  to  say  too  much  concerning  those  whom  he  fan- 
cied, or  too  little  about  those  whom  he  disliked,  each 
one  shall  be  given  the  privilege  of  intn.ducinir  himself, 
'i'o  begin  with,  here  is  our  old  friend  Phil  Uy\rv. 
"^es,  that  is  my  name  right  enough,  and  I  want  to 


:-l«i;-U«stfia0e8M«ii*lis*iii«afeii!!i^^ 


2  SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLKOGES 

say  first  ihiiicj  tlial  I  think  it  is  liiujli  time  soriic  notice 
wore  taken  of  us,  after  the  unsatisfactorv  conclusion  of 
that  other  hook,  ami  the  wretclied  state  of  uncertainty 
in  wliicli  we  were  all  left.  It  seeine(l  to  me  the  very 
worst  ending  to  a  stor}'  that  I  ever  heai'<l  of." 

"But,  Phil,  it  wasn't  the  end.  There  was  to  be  a 
sequel." 

''  Well,  you  didn't  say  so,  and  nobody  knew,  and  I 
for  one  have  been  greatly  niortiticd  ever  since,  without 
a  clianee  to  say  a  word  on  the  subject  either.  Xow,  as 
to  nivsclf,  if  anv  one  cares  to  know  who  I  am,  and 
where  I  am,  and  how  T  i^ot  here,  I  am  the  son  of  ^Ir. 
John  Kydcr,  of  New  London,  C'omiecticut.  lie  is  a 
mininc^  exj)ert,  and  is  at  jiresent  ent^a<j;ed  to  investigate 
some  [troperties  near  Sitka,  Alaska,  whert»  I  was  to 
liave  joined  him  last  May.  It  is  now  Se})tember,  and 
I  haven't  got  there  yet,  though  I  have  been  travelling 
stea<lily  ever  since  A])ril,  and  trying  my  very  best  to 
reach  Sitka.  I'm  sure  it  isn't  my  fault  that  things 
liave  happened  to  take  me  most  everywhei'e  else,  and 
finally  to  drop  me  away  up  here  in  northern  Alaska, 
two  thousand  miles  or  so  beyond  Sitka,  I'm  on  the 
right  track  now,  tlunigh,  for  I  am  on  a  steamboat  be- 
longing to  Mr.  1  lamer,  bound  u\^  tlu^  Yukon  IJiver.  It 
will  take  me  to  the  head  of  navigation.  Theti  all  I 
shall  have  to  i]o  will  be  to  cross  the  l)ivi(b'  to  Chilkat, 
ami  take  another  steamer  for  Sitka,  which  ])lace  I  ex- 
jKH't  to  reacdi  before  the  winter  is  over.  Then  my 
father's  anxiety  will  be  relieved,  for  I  sup|)OS('  he  is 
anxious,  though  I  can't  see  why  he  should  be.  IL'  must 
know  that  I  am  ])erfectly  well  able  to  take  care  of  ni}'- 
self,  and  will  tui'ii  up  all  riglit  some  time.  Doth  he  and 
Aunt  Kutli  sciin  to  think  that  I  am  careless  and  lial»h» 
t(»  get  into  sei'ajios,  Avhile  really  I  ntiver  do  anything 
important  without  the  most  careful  consideration — that 
is,  wiienevcr  there  is  time  for  considerini;. 


am:  i>iiMiiiunmtti>hiiiii!m4itiH 


ALLOWED    TO    SI'KAK    FOIi    TIIKMSKL\  F.S  3 

"For  instance,  I  <li(ln't  tk'cido  tliat  to  i^o  up  the 
Yukon  was  the  very  best  and  shortest  way  to  reaeli 
Sitka  until  I  ha<l  talked  it  all  over  witli  Ser^e.  I'm 
aw  fullv  ltKi  1  it  is  the  best  thing  to  do,  though,  for  it 
is  so  niueh  more  interesting  to  travel  over  a  new  route 
than  back  bv  the  one  vou  have  just  come.  That's  one 
reason  I  wouldn't  ])ay  any  attention  to  tliat  schooner 
we  jias'^ed  soon  after  leaving  St.  ^Michaels,  though  she 
did  seem  to  be  trying  to  signal  us.  I  was  afraid  slie 
miixht  be  bound  south  to  Oonalaska,  or  even  to  Sitka 
itself,  in  which  case  our  plans  would  have  been  all  up- 
set aLjain.  I  sliould  have  hated  that,  for  if  there  is  any 
one  thing  I  believe  in  it  is  sticking  to  a  plan  and  car- 
rying it  out  after  it  is  once  dccide<l  n])on.  So  does 
Serine,  who  is  one  of  the  verv  best  fellows  that  ever 
lived,  even  if  he  is  a  little  slow.  I  am  miglity  glad  to 
have  iiim  for  a  travelling  companion,  for  he  is  true  as 
steel  and  awftdiv  level-headed.  I  onlvwish  old  Jalan 
v,'ere  with  us,  for  he  is  al)out  the  best  fun  of  any  one 
1  know.  I  don't  suppose  we  shall  ever  see  him  again, 
thougli;  and,  now  that  I  come  to  thiid<  (»f  it,  it  does  seem 
as  if  we  ought  to  have  made  a  x'arch  for  him  on  Ooni- 
mak  before  leaving  in  such  a  hurry.  iJut  as  wo  were 
prisoners  of  war  on  board  the  cutter,  I  don't  exactly 
see  how  we  could  have  done  anything  but  what  we  <lid. 
Here  comes  Serge  now,  ami  \<ui  reallv  ou'^ht  to  know 
Idm  :  so  allow  me  to — "' 

'■  Hold  on,  Phil  ;  we  are  to  introduce  ourselves,  you 
know,  and  I  don't  want  to  be  handica}»ped  by  all  the 
nice  things  you  Avould  be  certain  to  say  about  me. 
Yes,  I  am  Serge — Serge  IJelcofsky,  b(»i-ii  in  Sitka  long 
aftei-  Alaska  became  part  of  the  T'niteil  States.  I  went 
to  sehot.l  there,  of  courst',  ]»ut  after  Lri'adiiating  T  still 
longed  foi  a  better  education  than  Sitka  afforded,  so  T 
shippe<l  al)oard  a  homeward-bound  whaler  for  New 
London,  Connecticut,  where   I   went    to   school    for  a 


im 


RXOW-SII()i:>    AXI)    SLED(ii:s 


year.  Tlicro  I  met  PJiil  Ryder,  who  aviis  not  only  the 
most  popular  fellow  and  the  best  athlete  in  tho  whole 
school,  but  who  became  the  best  friend  I  ever  had.  If 
])e  wasn't,  I  should  never  have  given  him  the  fur-seal's 
tooth  which  a  Chilkat  chief  gave  to  my  father.  On 
his  death  my  mother  gave  it  to  me,  and  soon  after  it 
l)assed  into  Phil's  liands  lie  lost  it.  Since  then  it  has 
turned  up  so  many  times,  in  such  mysterious  ways,  and 
has  liad  so  much  to  do  with  shaping  our  fortunes,  that 
I  can't  help  believing  at  least  part  of  tlie  old  tales  con- 
cerning it.  Anyhow,  the  way  it  has  managed  to  fol- 
low ns  right  np  to  date  is  certainly  wonderful.  It 
isn't  likely  that  we  shall  see  it  again,  though,  now  that 
the  old  Eskimo  has  got  hold  of  it,  for  he  evidently  real- 
izes its  value. 

"  Where  am  I  now  ?  On  a  river  steamer  bourid  for 
Sitka  by  way  of  the  Yukon,  of  course.  You  see,  I 
left  New  London  almost  a  year  ago  and  started  for 
Sitka  on  the  schooner  /Sea/jfC/r.  At  ^'ictoria,  JJritish 
Columbia,  who  should  I  meet  but  Phil  liyder,who  also 
shipped  on  the  SeaiHen'.  She  got  to  Sitka,  but  we  didn'l, 
and  though  we  seem  to  l)e  headed  that  way  now, while 
Phil  is  confident  that  we  are  going  sti'aight  there,  no 
one  knows  what  may  happen.  I  hope  1113'  dear  mother 
isn't  worrying  about  me.  If  I  was  only  sure  of  that, 
and  that  I  should  land  Phil  in  Sitka  some  time,  I  know 
I  should  enjoy  this  trip  immensely.  But,  as  ^Mr. Coombs 
says — " 

"  Hold  liard  there,  heartv  !  You  may  allow  that 
I'm  a  thousand  miles  away  ;  but  I'm  not.  And  when 
it  comes  to  taking  words  out  of  my  vei'v  mouth,  you'll 
find  that  I'm  right  alongside.  .Vs  my  friend  old  Kite 
Roberson  nster  say,  '  A  man  what  can't  speak  uj)  for 
liisself  hadn't  orter  be  allowed  to  vote.'  My  name  is 
Jalap  Coombs,  half  Yankee  and  half  IJritish  subject, 
late   mate   of   the   iS(<(ifieic,   now    acting  caji'n   of  the 


i  'I 


iiUMitlittmMi 


f»t!!r«»w»»<<v^ 


ALLOWED    TO    SPEAK    EOIi    THEMSELVES 


5 


scliooner  Ph'dowed,  m  which  me  and  ]\[r.  Rvdcr  is 
siirchiiiL,'  for  the  slippery  youno^  cliaps  wliat  lias  jest 
now  iiiterilooced  tlieirselvcs.  A  while  a<jfo  we  thoiiirlit 
we  had  'em,  l)ut  lirmijjs  happened,  and  now  we're  all  at 
sea  a^^'^in  without  an  idee  of  how  tlie  wind  '11  hlow  next. 
IJiit  as  old  Kite  uster  ofTen  say,  'When  you  don't  know 
what  to  do,  the  best  thinsx  is  to  do  nothing.'  Tiiat  is 
what  we  are  liahle  to  (h)  for  some  time,  seeiiii^  as  tlie 
P/illniind  are  hard  and  fast  aground  on  a  mud  bank 
wiih  a  nor'  wind  Idowiiiy-  all  the  water  outer  Norton 
Sound.'' 

"And   to  think  that  I,  John   Ryder,  after  spendinir 
tlie  whole  summer  in  searcliini;-  for  my  son  Phil, should 
at  length  liave  aetually  i^ot  within  sioht  of  him  away 
up  here  almost  to  the  Xortli    Pole,  only  to  have  the 
youm;-  scamp  sail  away  and  disa|»p('ar  asjjain,  as  oblivi- 
ous of  my  ])resence   as  thouuh    I    had    lu'ver  existed! 
And  now  this  miserable  aeei«hiit,  that  j)uts  an  en.l  to 
my  foUowiiii^r  him  any  fartlier !     Oh,  it  is  too  bad  !   too 
bad!     I  did  think  that  all  this  miscarriage  of  plans 
and  getting  lost  aiul  being  wliisked  off  to  all  sorts  of 
out-ot -the-way  i)laces  was  ])urely  accidental,  or  otdy 
owing  to  the  extraordinary  carelessness  for  which  V\\'\\ 
has  always  been  noted.     Xow,  liowever,  I  must  confess 
that  it  really  does  look  as  tliougli  he  wen^  readv  and 
Milling  to  go  in  any  direction  save  towards  Sitka.     I 
can't  conceive  wliat  inducements  tliat  trader-fellow  of 
whom  Nikrik  told  us  can  have  offered  to  entice  mv 
son  up  the  Yukon  at  this  time  of  the  year.     From  all 
accounts  the  trader  must  be  a  pretty  bad  lot,  and  1 
tremble  to  think  of  what  may  hai)])en  to  my  Phil  un- 
der his  inthience.      AVhat  did   Nikrik   savhis    name 
was  ?" 

"Gerald  Ilanu'r  is  my  name,  and  though  I  have 
never  jiad  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Mr.  John  liy.ier, 
from  what  I  have  seen  of  his  son  I  should  jud<re"  hini 


;ns«.,&!:a3w;^;i;^iifti4iiW^i9h;i^)^*tiaa,i:H;;ia*>.^Ki^^ 


i 


6 


SXOW-SIIOES    AND    SLEDGES 


to  be  a  man  well  wortli  ineetini^.  l^liil  is  certainly  a 
fine  fellow,  as  well  as  the  best  riHe  shot  I  ever  ran 
across,  and  I  am  more  than  glad  to  have  him  join  my 
exjjedition.  That  boy  Serge,  too,  is  a  trumj),  and  to- 
gether llii'V  make  a  strong  team,  for  while  the  first  is 
impulsive,  careless,  and  inclined  to  carry  things  with  a 
<lash,  the  other  is  cool,  steady  as  a  rock,  and  slow  to 
act,  but  certain  to  get  there  in  the  end.  As  for  mv- 
self,  I  am  leading  an  exj)edition  uj)  the  Yukon  with 
tlu'  intention  of  estal)lishing  a  trading-post  at  Forty 
Mile,  a  mining  camp  some  two  thousand  miles  uj)  the 
river.  I  hope  to  reach  there  in  this  steamer,  the 
Chhiio,  before  navigation  closes,  Then  I  expect  to  go 
out  over  the  Chilkoot  Pass  by  snow-shoes  and  sledges, 
and  so  finally  reach  San  Francisco  in  time  to  bring  u}) 
a  new  stock  of  goods  for  next  summer.  It  is  now  so 
late,  though,  that  I  begin  to  have  ni}'  (h)ubts  as  to 
whether  this  plan  can  Ixi  carried  out,  for  I  fear  we 
shall  be  frozen  ii  long  before  reaching  Forty  Mile.  I 
lieard  one  of  the  clerks  at  the  Kedoubt  bet  that  we 
would  not  reach  Nulato." 

"Yes,  I,  Simon  (Toldollar,  made  that  bet,  and  I  am 
willing  to  repeat  it.  I  hope  they  won't  get  to  Forty 
]\lile.  If  they  don't  we'll  head  them  off  vet,  and  teach 
them  that  none  but  the  company  can  trade  on  the 
Yukon.  I  am  one  of  the  company's  m(jst  trusted  clerks, 
and  though  I  oidy  came  out  last  summer,  I  think  I  see 
a  way  to  winning  ])romotion  by  breaking  up  the  plans 
of  this  impudent  would-be  trader  in  our  territoi-y,  and 
I  am  going  to  ])ropose  my  sclieme  to  the  agent  at 
once.  I  am  the  more  anxious  to  carry  it  out  now  that 
Phil  Ryder,  whom  I  hate,  has  turned  up  again,  and  is 
(n'idently  senile  sort  of  a  ])artner  in  this  new  concern. 
lie  thinks  I  stole  his  money  when  we  crossed  the  co!i- 
tinent  together,  but  I  didn't.  Even  if  I  had  we  would 
now  be  quits,  for  he  has  stolen  the  fur-seal's  tooth  fi'oni 


I 


!i 


.«Mui(iUt.|i<MJ4,|<i|,|lt.lii|<i:)l 


Ar.LcnVKD    TO    srr.AK    FOR    TIIKMSKLVKS 


cr,  the 


nu'.  I  know  wlierc  it  is,  llioimli,  :ui(l  Fll  liavo  it  l).ick 
Id'Core  long.  I'll  lind  soiiil'  chaiu'c  to  get  tiio  best  of 
him,  too,  bol'orc  lie  leaves  the  Viikoii,  and  I'll  give  liini 
cause  to  regret  that  he  ever  saw  it  or  liedoubt  St.  311- 
chaels,  either.     See  if  I  don't." 

"At  last  I  am  allowed  to  sjjcak,  and  I  must  sav  I 
think  I  should  have  been  the  first  to  bo  presented,  for 
I  am  the  Fur-seal's  Tooth.  My  origin  is  mysterious, 
the  wonderful  carving  with  which  I  am  covered  is 
unique,  and  of  course  my  ultimate  fate  cannot  be  fore- 
told ;  but  whoever  has  read  of  me  in  the  book  that 
bears  my  name  must  admit  that  I  exert  a  powerful  in- 
fluence over  the  affairs  of  men.  It  is  sai(l  of  me  that 
he  who  gives  me  away  gives  good  luck  with  me.  He 
who  receives  me  as  a  gift  receives  good  luck.  He  who 
loses  me  loses  his  luck,  and  he  who  steals  me  steals 
bad  luck  that  will  ding  to  him  so  long  as  I  am  re- 
tained in  his  ])Ossession. 

"Although  I  am  now  in  the  hands  of  a  wretched 
Eskimo,  I  pr()])ose  to  leave  him  very  shortly,  to  con- 
tinue my  travels  until  I  reach  my  proper  resting-i)lace, 
and  to  exert  a  very  considerable  influence  iip.m  the 
foi-tiicoming  story.  If  you  doubt  my  word,  jiisL  bear 
me  iu  mind  and  watch  for  my  appearance." 


*H^!i«fcV:^j*g8iiisa^8ii(«|»»Hi«»«W*^^ 


criAPTEii  ir 


A    I)AX(;F.K0US    I'.lMMIl    OFF    YL'KOX    MOUTH 


Ei(;irrv  miles  soiitli  of  Redoubt  St.  ^ricliiiels,  tlie  one 
lonely  1r;i(linu;-statioii  of  that  bleak  northern  eoast,  the 
mig'lity  Yukon  j)ouis  forth  its  1url)i<l  ilood,  (liseoi(n'in_cr 
tlie  waters  of  JJci'int;-  Sea  for  one  Iiundred  niih's  olf 
shore.  In  point  of  size,  as  measured  l)y  lengtli,  iho 
\  ukon  rnnks  seventeenth  amonu-  llie  rivers  of  tlio 
worhl  and  iifth  ann)nLr  those  of  the  Tnited  States,  1)ut 
its  volume  of  watei-  is  computed  to  be  e<pial  to  that  of 
the  .Mississippi,  while,  like;  the  Father  of  W'atei's,  it 
is  constantly  eatini,^  away  its  own  banks  and  tearinir 
them  down,  acres  at  a  time,  aloni,^  its  entive  len-^th. 
Thus  it  has  Ix-come  a  slioal  stream  of  immense  width, 
crowded  with  islands  and  sand-bars,  on  all  of  which  are 
hu^'e  stacks  of  bleached  driftwood  piled  no  bv  siiriii"-- 
time  iloods.  In  the  neighl)orhood  of  its  fandike.  many- 
mouthed  delta  the  tawny  giaiit  has  dei»()sited  its  muddy 
sediment  for  so  many  ages  that  it  hascreatiMl  Imndreds 
of  S(|uare  miles  of  low  swamp  lands,  on  which  only  coarse 
grasses  and  stunted  willows  grow.  In  the  early  sum- 
mer these  vast  swamps  alTord  safe  breeding-places  for 
millions  of  swans,  ducks,  and  geese.  Here  also  are 
l)r()diiced  sucli  incredible  swarms  of  mos(piitoes  that 
neither  human  beings  nor  animals  dare  penetrate  their 
watery  solitudes.  Xor  arc  mos(pntoes  confined  to  the 
Yukon  (b.'lta  ;  l)ut  its  entii-e  valley  is  so  infested  with 
tln'in  that  summer  is  a  season  to  be  dreaded  by  whites 
and  natives  alike.     Even  the  wihl  animals  of  its  forests 


-i 


S   : 

ii.: 


">■- 

My 

lirse 
iin- 

or 
iro 

at 

eir 

the 

ith 

U'S 


'k 


5 


■fM 


t  ■ 


I'i 


Ji  1 


!.'  till  i 

1  i  ' 


•  >t«*o'l(MM*J**-M»'»SMlflM!tiM 


A    I)ANG:ii(>US    UKRTII    OFF    YUCOX    MOFTII 


9 


i"('trc';vt  to  tlu!  snow- clad  iiioinitaiiis,  so  tliat  tlicro  i.s 
little  or  MO  <j;;}.\u'  to  be  jH'OCMU'cd  bctWHH'ii  siii-iii'jf  and 
antnmii.  Tiif  only  coiiipciisation  of  the  season  i>  tli.ii 
it  Ijrin^s  the  iiiest  salmon  of  tlie  world  into  the  riv- 
er in  such  v;';t  shoals  that  every  dweller  within  oih> 
liundred  mile,  of  its  hanks  may  from  them  lay  in 
Ills   year's  su]  plv   of   food    1)V   the   labor   of  a   sin"le 

^  111/  h/  ."^ 

iiionrh. 

In  the  sumiinT,  too,  the  four  or  five  trade-boats — all 
light-draiio-ht,  sicrn-wheeled  steamers  like  the  C/ibiio — 
that  ]tly  on  the  I'iver  make  theii-  annual  ti'ips,  with 
j)rovisions,  o-oods,  and  an  ei^-lit  months'  accumulation 
ol  mail,  carryinn-  joy  to  lonely  mission  -  stations  and 
tradinsj^- jiosts.  native  villa<:,'es,  and  distant  minijii^- 
camj»s.  On  their  return  in  the  fall  thev  ai'e  iVeio-hted 
Avith  n^old-dust  and  the  s])oils  of  the  most  jirojilic  fur- 
pi'oducinijf  disti-ict  now  lef!  to  the  world. 

These  thiuLis  formed  the  ]irincii)al  tojijcs  of  conver- 
sation in  the  i)ilot-iiouse  of  the  sturdy  iittle  C/u'nio  as, 
aided  l)y  a  stronu'  north  wind,  she  swept  down  the  des- 
olate coast  of  Norton  Sound.  The  six-by-seven-foot 
enelosure  was  occupied  by  (ierald  Hamer,  the  stalwart 
leailer  of  the  exi)edition,  by  Phil  and  Serge,  and  by  an 
P]skimo  jiilot,  who  had  been  ol)tained  at  St.  .Alichaels. 
'J'he  two  boys  were  in  there  for  warmth,  for  the  season 
was  late  September,  which  in  that  latitude  is  very  close 
to  the  beginning  of  wintei-,  ami  the  ])risk  noiih  wind 
lield  so  keen  an  edg(>  that  no  one  remained  on  deck 
unless  forced  to  do  so. 

Gerald  Ilamer  was  thei'i'  to  watch  his  native  pilot, 
in  whom  he  had  little  confidenee.  lie  was  also  uneasy 
concerning  Iiis  boat,  which  had  been  put  together  in 
tlie  greatest  haste  on  the  beach,  just  beyond  the  Re- 
doubt, in  tlic  face  of  all  j.ossible  annoyance  fi-om  its 
inmates;  they  being  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  al- 
ready establislied  company,  were   determined  ihar   no 


10 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AM)    SLKDGKS 


i" 


otlior  trader  sliouM  '.raiii  a  i'oolliold  in  tlic  conntrv  if 
tlicy  could  prevent,  it. 

UciiiLj  aiixi<ius  to  obtain  tlic  ixood-will  (-'"  tln' natives 
iVoni  the  outset,  (leralil  IlanuT  Ii.id  allowed  a  niunlier 
ortlieni  wlio  dwelt  in  the  \'nkon  delt;i,  ;ilid  Wd'e  de- 
sirous of  i-etiii'nini^  lionie,  to  take  passa^'"  on  I  lie  ^ 'A////o, 
which  towed  llieir  walrus-skin  l)idaia'ali>,  or  open  Ix^ats, 
hehind  lier.  These  ])asseni^ers — men,  women,  and  (d)il- 
dren,  fat,  L;"i-easy,  and  happy — made  themselves  j»er- 
fectly  at  home  on  tiie  lower  or  cargo  detdv  of  the 
steaniei',  sprawling  over  her  freight,  peei'ing  imjuisi- 
tively  at  her  engine,  and  revelling  in  the  cond)ined 
od(»rsof  steam  and  oil  ]»ervading  that  j)art  of  tlie  bo.-it. 

IJefore  half  the  distance  down  the  coast  was  cov- 
ered, mysterious  accidents  lu-gan  to  liap))en  to  the 
ina(diinery.  Fii'st  it  came  to  a  stop,  and  the  enuineer 
reported  that  something  hail  so  seriously  goiu'  -wrong 
tiiat  it  would  be  necessary  to  aiieiior  whih^  he  made  an 
examination.  To  tl>e  liorror  and  dismay  of  all  liands, 
a  gunny  sack  was  found  to  l)e  stull'eil  so  far  into  the 
exhaust  that  the  pipe  liad  to  be  taken  aj)art  before  the 
obstruction  could  be  reached  and  removed.  Not  long 
afti'r  this  danger  was  averted,  one  of  tlio  ])nm))s  re- 
fused to  work.  It  was  taken  to  ])ieces,  and  was  ton  mi 
to  (contain  a  laru^e  nail,  which  must  have  been  recentlv 
droj)j)ed  into  it.  There  was  wo  (b^ubt  but  that  these 
things  had  been  doiu'  intentionally  ;  and  as  suspicion 
naturally  fell  on  the  native  ])assi'ngers,  some  of  whom 
were  known  to  be  in  tlu^  employ  of  tlu'  old  company, 
Gerald  llamer  finallv  ordered  them  to  leavi'the 
steamer. 

Not  understanding  tlie  cause  of  this  ])ei'<Mnittoi\v  or- 
der, and  being  loath  to  exchange  their  ju'csenl  comfort- 
able (juarlers  for  the  o])en  boats,  the  natives  o]»eyed  so 
slowly  and  sulkily  that  it  almost  seemed  as  though  they 
were  about  to  insist  on  remaining  aboard.     At  length, 


1 


1 


M 


■•»*i«it*f  M*-*  ■♦)**•*  H* '  * 


A    DANlJKKOrs    liKKTII    oFV    VICON    MoITII 


f 


'■■,>■■ 


I 


Iiowovcr,  ;ill  were  l;oik'  cxch'IiI  i'IP'  woman,  \vlio  Ik  Id  a 
cliiM  in  Ikt  arms,  aiiti  who  rd'uscd  to  leave  the  wartii 
coiner  of  wliich  she  had  taken  possessic^ii. 

determined  to  ^ef,  rid  of  liei\  and  despairing-  of 
nioviiiL;-  her  l>y  other  means,  (iei-ahl  llanu'r  Mi(hh'nl\- 
snatched  t  he  chiM  from  lier  aians,  ran  to  the  open  nanLi- 
way.  and  di'o|.|)ed  it,  ^-ently  into  :i  hidarrah  that  still 
waited  alonuside.  In  an  instant  the  mother  had  ['<>]- 
h'wed,  and  e(.nM  l)i'  seen  as  th(3  lM)at  ^\as  slioved  oil" 
liML,'L,MnL;- the  infant  to  her  bosom,  at  t  lie  same  time  dart- 
ini;-  fnrioiis  odances  after  the  departin-j;  steamer.  A 
minute  later,  as  thouLjh  in  conqtliaiiee  with  her  evident 
thoiii^h  unexpressed  wish,  the  C/injio  w.xs  run  hard  and 
fast  aground  on  one  of  the  inmnnerahle  hars  tirat  so 
jealously  n'uard  Yukon  month.  Her  native  steersman 
had  been  leaninu;  from  the  pilot-iioiise  door  watchiiiL,^ 
the-  dismissal  of  jiis  compat  laots,  and  especially  that  of 
iiis  own  wife  and  l)aby,  as  the  last  two  put  oil"  after- 
wards proved  to  be,  instead  of  attending-  to  his  dutv. 

Phil,  who  remained  in  the  pilot-house,  saw  the  bank 
just  before  the  boat  striutk,  and  snatched  the  wheel 
hard  ov(,'r,  at  the  same  time  sin'nalliiiL;'  to  sto|)  and 
Itack  at  full  s])eed.  ]5ut  it  was  all  too  late,  and  ere  she 
<'ould  be  stop|)ed  the  ( 7u'//t<)  hixd  slid  half  lier  length 
into  the  treacherous  mud.  In  another  juinute  the  lleet 
of  bidarrahs  swept  by,  and  from  them  came  mo(d<inL;- 
lau,<;hter  mino-lod  Avith  derisive  shouts.  One  of  them 
ran  aloneside,  .and  ere  any  one  on  the  steamer  knew 
what  was  taking-  j)lac(.'  the  native  pilot  lia<l  (b'serted 
his  ])()st,an(l  was  beiuL;-  borne  away  in  triumph  by  his 
fellows. 

''I  only  liope  nothinu^  worse  will  com(>  of  it,"  said 
Phil,  anxiously,  when  (4erahl  llamer  iiually  rejoined 
him  in  the  i)ilot-hoiise. 

"What  do  you  mean  ?" 

'A\hy,  tlu'  pilot   said   somet1)in<j^  about    that   baby 


12 


SNOW-SHOES    AM)   SLKDUES 


V 


i" 


Si 
11: 


;     !1 


i'l 


H 


Ii;i\ini^  tlic  measles,  \vlilcli  I  Mn<lei"st;ni(l  liave  heon 
]tii'tly  l):i(l  on  the  river  ihis  summer,  ;m<l  if  tli  it  is  \\\v. 
case  some  of  us  may  have  caui^ht,  them."' 

"Oil,  I  <^Miess  there's  no  <langer,"  replied  the  captain, 
carelesslv,  liis  mind  at  that  moment  l)eini4;  too  fullv  oc- 
cupied  M'ith  tiie  condition  of  liis  vessel  to  allow  of 
otlior  tliouyhtH. 

It  was  too  late  to  do  anytljinuj  that  eveiiinij^,  for  the 
short  Northern  day  was  already  meru'ed  in  dusk,  and 
the  next  morniuLr,  thoui!;li  anchors  were  carried  out 
.'istei'ii,  t'ley  cami'  home  througli  the  soft  mud  as  if  it 
were  so  much  watei'  the  moment  a  strain  was  put  on 
tlu'in.  S!i''er-polcs  were  ri^'ijfed,  and  an  attemjtt  was 
made  to  pry  the  boat  olf  Ijy  means  (»f  tiiem  ;  l)ut 
ai^ain  the  mud  olteri'd  so  little  resistance  that  the  (d'- 
fort  only  resulted  in  failure.  So,  after  working-  like 
beavers  for  hours,  the  (Jhi)no''s  crew  resii^ned  them- 
selves to  waiting  as  j)atiently  as  might  o  for  a  change 
of  wind  and  liigher  water. 

In  this  enforced  delay  three  precious  days  were 
spent,  and  nightfall  of  the  third  found  the  Chimo  still 
outside  Yukon  mouth  instead  of  one  hundred  miles  or 
more  inland,  as  had  been  hoped.  Still,  with  so  ener- 
getic a  leader  as  Gerald  Ilamer,  those  three  <lays  were 
by  no  means  wasted.  lie  overhauled  and  restowecl 
the  cargo  liurriedly  put  on  board  at  St.  INIicliaels,  and 
with  tlie  engineei-  made  a  thorougli  examination  of 
the  machinery.  IIi'  reorganized  his  slen(h*i"  ci"ew,  aj)- 
])ointing  Piiil  and  Sei'ge  first  and  second  mates,  and 
giving  each  charge  of  a  watch. 

Jiesides  the  captain,  the  two  mates,  and  the  engineer, 
there  were  three  other  j)ersons  in  the  crew.  Two  of 
them  were  millwrights,  wlio  were  going  to  Forty  ]N[ile 
to  set  up  the  saw-mill  that  formed  ])art  of  the  Chiui()\'i 
cargo,  but  who  now  served  as  firemen.  The  tliird  was 
a  sullen-faced  fellow  named  Strengel,  who  had  been 


m 


'1 


I 


ere 


TO 

111(1 

ol" 
ap- 
111(1 

HT, 

of 

no's 
was 

('CM 


TUK    NATIVK    I'lI.Ol'    DKSEUTS    HIS    POST 


-"T" 


A    DANGEROUS    liERTII    OFF    YFCON    .AIOITH  13 

en-n.rrorl  from  tl.o  stonmor  AWs/,,  ^yh■u.h  l,ron-l.t  the 
oxj  cMlit.on  to  St.  Michaels,  to  act  as  assistant  eu^luvov. 
1  lul  took  a  dislike  to  this  fcHow  from  the  first  ^aml  it 
wns  .strenortheiioa  by  tiie  fact  that  he  seeme.I  to  },ave 
contracted  an  intimacy  Mith  some  of  tlie  imnates  of 
the  Redoubt,  who  were  avowed  enemies  of  tl»e  exDe- 
dition.  ^ 

Besides  doin-  the  things  already  mentioned,  tlie 
captan.  and  his  two  youn-  „,;ites  took  a  small  boat 
and  staked  out  about  ten  miles  of  the  chaimel  that  the 
C/ujito  would  follow  as  soon  as  she  aoain  iioated. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  day  tlTe  wind' champed 
and  as  the  steamer  would  j.robably  lloat  during'^the 
ni.olit  tlie  captain  ordered  steam  to  be  i,^ot  np  an<] 
cverytliing  made  ready  for  a  start  at  davlight.  He 
turned  in  early,  complaining  of  great  weariness  and 
many  j)ains,  which  lie  attributed  to  the  cold  and  the 
frequent  drenchings  that  had  accompanied  liis  sound- 
ing of  the  channel. 

The  following  morning,  when  Phil  went  to  report 
that  the  steamer  was  alloat,  and  also  to  make  a  o-rave 
charge  against  Assistant  Engineer  Strengel,  he  was  lior- 
nfied  to  find  tlie  captain  raving  in  tlie^  delirium  of  a 
high  fever.  Thus  to  his  intense  dismay  the  vonn- 
mate  suddenly  found  liimself  burdened  with  the\mtire 
responsibility  of  the  expedition,  with  both  a  mutiny 
and  a  very  sick  man  on  his  liands,  in  an  unfriendly 
country,  and  about  to  be  confronted  with  the  terrors 
of  an  arctic  winter. 


CHAPTER  III 


MEASLES    AND    ^fUTINY 


As  Phil  realized  the  full  gravity  of  the  situation  he 
instinctively  shrank  from  assuming  the  responsibility 
so  unexpectedly  thrust  upon  him.  One  of  his  aunt 
Ruth's  lonir-auo  stories  oC  a  i>oor  little  bear  who  found 
himself  alone  in  the  great  big  world  with  all  his 
troubles  before  him  flashed  into  the  boy's  mind,  and 
he  said  to  himself,  "This  little  bear's  troubles  have 
met  him,  sure  enough,  and  in  full  force." 

Ibit  why  should  he  assume  this  responsibility?  This 
was  not  his  expedition,  and  he  had  no  interest  in  it 
save  that  of  a  ]iassengei\  It  did  not  seem  at  all  likely 
that  it  could  succccmI  now,  and  as  they  must  apparently 
return  to  St.  Michaels  sooner  or  later,  why  not  dt)  so 
at  once,  and  get  out  of  this  scrape  the  easiest  way  pos- 
sible. Or  why  not  turu  the  whole  l>usiness  over  to 
JMr.  Sims,  the  engineei',  who  was  well  paid  for  his 
work,  and  who  was  supjjosed  to  have  counted  the  cost 
of  failure  as  well  as  of  success.  Yes,  that  was  the 
thing  to  do:  shii"t  the  I'csjionsihility  to  ."Mr.  Sims,  who 
was  j)aid  for  assuming  such  duties. 

Ibit  hold  on,  l*lii!  ]|\'der  I  Have  you  not  also  been 
]»;ii(l,  at  the  very  highest  rate  too,  l)y  the  man  who 
now  lies  so  helpless  before  you,  and  whose  fortunes 
arc  in  your  hands?  Did  he  not,  I'escue  you  from  a 
ciTlaiii  death  out  there  in  those  cold,  cruel  waters, 
when  your  bidarkie  was  on  the  ])oint  of  foundering? 
Did  you  not  gladly  accept  Ins  offer  to  ac(!ompany  him 


MEASLES   AND   MUTINY 


ir> 


)OS- 

to 
lis 
•ost 
ho 
ho 

H'U 

h.) 

lies 
11   :i 

liiu 


oil  this  trip  wlicii  all  :ij)i)(>rinMl  smootli  snilinL(?  Have 
voii  not  l)r('ii  l\'(l  aiul  clothed  at  his  cxpoiise':'  ^Vhove 
all,  has  he  not  ]>rovc<l  his  coiifidt'iice  in  you  by  appoint- 
iiii;  you  to  a  position  of  trust?  Are  such  tliinL::s  as 
LCratiludu  and  loyalty  unknown  to  you?  You  were 
l)roud  to  be  called  lirst  mate  yesterday,  and  now  you 
shrink  from  ])erforminGj  tlic  first  and  most  evident 
duty  of  the  otiiee.  You  owe  everythinu;  to  Gerald 
I  lamer,  and  yet  you  would  intrust  his  fortunes  to  u 
man  whom  yu  know  to  be  a  drunkard  Avhenever  \'n[- 
iior  is  within  his  reach,  and  on  whose  movements  the 
captain  bade  you  keep  a  close  watch.  Shame  on  you, 
riiil  Ryder  I  What  would  Serine  say  if  you  should  do 
this  c<)wardly  thiiiL;-?  ^Vould  you  ever  dare  face  his 
li<ui('st  gazc!  ai^ain  ? 

These  thouL!,"lits,  which  flashed  throu^'h  Phil's  mind 
ill  a  few  seconds,  stuni^  him  as  thouuh  ihey  had  been 
so  many  clearly  uttered  wcu'ds.  The  hot  blood  rushed 
to  his  cheeks,  and  with  a  very  determined  look  on  his 
face  tlu'  lad  walked  forward.  He  found  SerL,^e  in 
tlie  pilotdiouse,  and  at  once  laid  the  situation  before 
h'lii.     In  conclusion,  he  said: 

"  We  must  make  some  move  at  once,  for  this  wester- 
ly wind  is  kicking  up  such  a  sea  that  our  anchors 
won't  hold  much  longer.  It  Mould  be  even  morc^  dan- 
gerous to  attempt  a  return  to  St.  Michaels  than  to  lie 
lu're.  lU'sides  that,  to  ])lace  ourselves  ;it  the  mercy  of 
our  enemie^;  for  the  winter  would  mean  the  utter  ruin 
of  the  expedition  and  llie  loss  to  (ierahl  llamer  of 
(xcry  cent  he  lias  in  the  Morhb  So,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, as  the  ])resent  c(nnmand  <.)i'  this  craft  seems 
to  devolve  on  me,  T  ])ropose  to  continue  on  our  course, 
get  rid  of  that  fellow  Stri'Ugel  at  the  lirst  opportunity, 
and  pu>h  on  u[)  the  river  until  our  farther  ])rogress  is 
bai'red  by  ice,  or  until  we  discover  a  good  ])lace  in 
which   to  lay  the  boat  uj)  for  the  winter.     We  must 


IG 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLEDGES 


J 


H 


surclv  iliid  wliito  men  somowliere  wlio  will  liclp  us, 
too."' 

''  \^'s,"  ri'i)Ii('(l  Serge,  "  we  are  certain  to  if  we  can 
only  get  as  far  as  the  Anvik  ^Mission.  At  any  rate, 
Phil,  what  you  propose  to  do  is  exactly  the  right  thing, 
and  you  can  count  on  me  to  back  you  up  to  the  hist 
gasp." 

"I  knew  I  could,  old  man,"  replied  Phil,  warmly. 
"Now  let's  go  below  and  make  ix-ady  to  start." 

Calling  on  the  two  millwrights  to  follow  thcni,  Phil 
and  Scro-e  nnuU'  their  way  to  the  I'liLjine-rooni.  where 
they  found  the  engineer  just  rousing  from  a  heavy 
slee)),  which  Phil  strongly  suspected  had  l)een  aided 
by  li(|Uor. 

"  Mr.  fSims,"  said  he,  "  what  would  be  the  elTect  if  a 
cyliiuler-head  should  blow  out  under  a  full  head  of 
steam  ?" 

"I'lie  effect ?"  re])lied  the  engineer,  slowly,  and  evi- 
dently surprised  at  the  <|uestion.  "  Why,  any  one  who 
hajtpened  to  be  in  I'ange  woidd  be  killed,  all  in  this 
part  of  the  boat  would  be  more  or  less  scalded,  and 
the  chances  are  that  this  expedition  would  come  to  a 
very  sudden  termination." 

'*()f  course  yours  is  all  right?" 

"Certainly  ;  I  examined  it  only  yestenbay,"  replied 
the  engineer,  testily.  "Now,  if  you  are  through  with 
your  foolish  questions,  it  seems  to  me  you'd  better  noti- 
fy the  cai)tain  that  evervthiniv  is  readv  for  a  start.  I 
don't  want  to  waste  steam  by  blow'iig  off,  and  there's 
more  on  now  than  W(;  ought  to  cari-y." 

"  AVonld  you  mind  stepping  this  way  a  moment?" 
asked  Phil,  taking  the  engini-rooiu  lantern  and  hold- 
ing it  back  of  tin'  cylinder. 

.Moved  by  curiosity  as  to  what  the  young  seabhunter 
could  be  up  to,  tlu;  engineer  stepj)ed  forward,  gave 
one  look,  and  uttered  a  (!ry  of  horror.    More  than  half 


■m^ 


m 


MKASI.ES    AM)    MLTINY 


17 


K'lltV" 

iioia- 


tlu;  l)()hs  lioldiiig  tlie  massive  cylinder  -  liriul   in  \)\:u'o 
had  been  loosened. 

"  Tixni  my  liuiior,  I  knew  notliiiiG^  of  this  thinuc,  ]\[r. 
Itydfi',''  he  _!L,Msped. 

''Of  course  you  didn't,"  aiis\vere(l  Phil,  sjfrindy  ; 
"  for  it  was  done  wliile  you  were  sleeping;  oiT  the  ef- 
fect of  tli()se  braiidiecl  pcaelies,     Wiiere  is  Streni^el  ?" 

''lie  is  aft  somewlierc.  But  surely,  Mr.  Ryder,  }()U 
don't  suspect  him  of  this  dastardly  act?'' 

"(io  and  tell  him  to  come  here,*'  ordi'red  I*hil,turii- 
iiiLi'  to  one  of  the  miliwriglits. 

In  a  moment  the  man  returned,  and  reported  that 
Sli'i!nu;cl  chaimei]  to  be  too  bus}'  to  come  just  then. 

With  an  exi)ressive  i,danco  at  Ids  friend,  Piiil  left  the 
engine-room,  and  Serge  followed  him.  A  minute  later, 
in  the  resistless  grasp  of  the  two  athletic  young  fel- 
lows, ]\Ir.  Strengel  was  being  rushed  along  the  deck  so 
rajjidiy  as  to  suggest  t-hat  he  had  very  imperative  busi- 
ness in  the  engine-room. 

"Here,  gcnth-nien,  is  the  man  who  did  that  thing!" 
cried  Piiil,  as  he  gave  llie  breathless  and  trembling 
Mri'tch  a  shove  that  landed  him  in  a  corner. 

"So  help  me,  Mr.  Ryder — "  he  began,  abjectly. 

"Shut  up  I''  shouted  Phil,  "and  don't  you  dare  speak 
again  until  you  are  spoken  to.  There  is  no  doubt  of 
his  guilt,  gentlemen,  for  I  saw  him  loosening  those 
bolts  as  plainly  as  1  see  him  now,  when  I  came  down 
here  awhile  ago  to  make  I'eady  for  starting.  He  did 
not  sei'  me,  for  I  was  in  <larkness,  while  he  worked  by 
lantern- light.  So  I  watched  him  for  a  full  minute 
Avhile  he  ])reparcd  this  death-trap  for  the  rest  of  us. 
No  wonder  he  hn<  sought  the  most  distant  and  safest 
part  of  the  ship  ever  since. 

"^Foreover,  it  is  this  man  who,  on  two  j)revious  oc- 
casions, has  attem))ted  to  cripple  our  machinery.  He 
is  enijiloycd  by  the  old  company  to  injure  anil  (hday 


,fbimM^>mi^v.^mmwmt^:^m*mmmis9i&i^^^ 


I  '1 


IS 


SN"()\v-s!!(ii;s  AM)  >i.i:i>(ii;s 


l>|' 


.    li 


I  ;(, 


tiiis  (.'X|)C(]iti<iii  liy  every  |i().ssil>le  means.  I'^roin  the 
evidence  In'l'oi'e  ii^  it  l()((ks  as  liioiii^li  lie  would  not  hes- 
itate lo  e(»nnnit  '  lurdei'  to  a('coin))lish  his  doi^ns, 
Now,  ui'nlliMiien,  what,  in  your  oj»iniiin,  oU'_;'ht  lo  he 
done  with  ;;U(di  a  hit,  of  scum".-'"'' 

'' Shof)t  liinil  Throw  hiin  osei'lioardl"'  suLi"n'este(l 
two  of  the  lit  t  le  L;roii|>  in  a  lu'ealh,  wliile  Sei'n'e  sail] 
nolhinn',  hut,  ti^litened  his  clutch  of  tin.'  ))ris(»ner's  col- 
lar oniinoie-ly. 

"Tui'u  him  over  t o  1  he  c:i|i! ain,"' said  1  he  eni:;ineer; 
"he'il  settle  the  case  in  a  hurry."'' 

"Thai  is  what  I  >iarti'il  to  do,  aiid  wh.at  I  am  atVaid 
of,"  i't')»lied  Phil.  ''The  c.ijilaiii  has  swoiMi  to  shoot  (Ui 
sight  the  llr>t  man  he  catches  tam[ieri!ig  with  the  ma- 
chinery of  this  l)o;it,  aU'l  I  don't  heliev*'  he'd  hesitate 
a  moment  Ixfore  doing  it,  either.  At  the  same  time, 
gentlemen,  we  don't  want  to  ha;  any  hloodshed  on 
the  C/ilnin  if  we  can  help  it.  it  woidd  not  oidv  Li'ive 
her  a  hail  nanu'  and  injure  our  pi'osju'cts  on  the  rivei', 
but  woidd  furnish  u>  with  a  cause  of  ri'gi'ct  for  the 
rest  of  our  lives.  So  I  thought  I  v^'ould  a'-k  your  opin- 
ion ix'fiM'e  reporting  this  alVair  to  the  captain. 

"My  plan  would  I)e  to  get  under  way  as  (juietly  as 
possible,  which  the  capt;iin  ordiM'ed  me  to  do  anyway, 
if  we  were  ;il1oat  at,  daylight,  and  run  over  to  the  l*as- 
tolik  woo(ly;ird.  There  \\a'"ll  'j^'wr  the  scoiiiidnd  a 
(diance  to  slip  ashore  and  hide  himself.  He'll  be  picked 
up  fa>^t  enough  l)y  the  natives  who  own  the  yard.  \\\' 
won't  make  any  stoj)  tliere,  Init  will  run  on  u]»  our 
stakeil  channel  and  be  out  of  sight  b(d"ore  anything  is 
saitl  t(>  the  captain.  Thus  we  shall  get  rid  <d"  our 
tnurderer  without  ha\  ing  his  blood  on  our  hands,  and 
at  the  same  time  l(>ave  him  where  there  won't  be  the 
siiiihtest  chance  of  liis  troubling  us  any  nnire.  In  fact, 
I'm  inclined  to  thiid;  that  if  he  once  gets  safely  out  of 
this  boat,  he'll   Ite  wise  enough  never  to  come  near  her 


t^wHttNft^f  ^f'Wh**  ■  i  iffffp 


t 


From  the 

Jd  not  lics- 
s    (lc>iuii>. 

siiLfLi't'stcd 

Sci'uc  said 

••oiler's  ('<)1- 

('  ejiLjiiH'ci"; 

am  atVaid 

l(  >  sliool  on 

itli  til*'  ma- 
•M  hesitate 
same  time, 
)0(lshed  on 
:  oiih^  ijcive 
I  the  river, 
ret  for  thi; 
voiir  o[)in- 
1. 

(jiiielly  :is 

)   an V way, 

o  t lie  i*as- 

•olllidrel    a 

he  pickeil 

vai-d.      We 

)ii    ui»    our 

tiyt  iiiiii;'  is 

rid   of    our 

lands,  and 

iTt  be    tlie 

'.      In  t'aet, 

'ely    "lit    of 

e  netir  iier 


-4 
S 

> 


3 


■4 


'W 


% 


i 


MEASLES    A.ND    MLTINV 


19 


anjuin.     I  shall  l>o    sorry    for    liiin    if   he  does,   tliat's 
ail." 

After  some  disciissioii,  during  which  the  wretclied 
jtrisoiier  watched  the  faces  of  liis  judges  with  painful 
eagerness,  this  ])lan  was  accepted.  Lender  strictest 
sujiervision  of  the  engineer,  Strengel  was  made  to  re- 
j)air  his  own  mischief.  'Jlien  with  Serge  to  keej)  care- 
ful watch  of  alfairs  on  the  lower  deck,  and  with  Phil 
at  the  wheel,  the  C/ihno  steamed  away  from  the  i)Iace 
of  her  long  detention.  As  she  neared  the  Pastolik 
wood-yard  Strengel  was  not  oidy  ready  to  leap  ashore 
at  the  first  opjjortunity,  but  he  was  warned  by  the  an- 
gry miitterings  of  those  about  him  that  to  remain  on 
board  a  moment  longer  than  Avas  necessary  would  place 
his  life  in  imminent  jeopardy. 

So,  as  the  steamer  rid>bed  against  the  bank,  he  made 
a  leap  ;  his  bag  was  Hung  after  him,  and,  without  hav- 
ing come  to  a  full  stoj.,  the  Chlmo  moved  on,  Phil 
ringing  the  jingle-bell  for  full  speed  the  moment  it 
was  safe  to  do  so. 

It  is  hard  to  say  which  was  the  more  pleased  at  this 
successful  termination  of  the  alTair  :  ]'hil  to  be  so  easily 
rid  of  a  dangerous  member  of  his  crew,  or  the  wretch 
who  had  so  easily  escaped  a  well-merited  punishment. 
As   soon   as  the   steamer  again   reached  the  staked 
chamiel,  Phil  resigned  the  wheel  to  Serge,  and,  calling 
on  the  two  millwrights  to  aid  him,  removed  the  striclT- 
en  caj)tain  to  the  lower  deck.     There  a  bed  had  been 
l»re].ared  for  him  in  a  warm  corner,  near  the  boiler, 
which  Avas  carefully  curtained  by  tari)aulinH  against 
any  draught  of  cold  air.     Althongh  the  young'^mate 
had  but  slight  knowledge  of  sickness,  and  was  still  nn- 
eertain  as  to  the  nature  of  Gerald  llamer's  illness,  he 
knew  that  warmth  would  do  his  ])alient  no  harm,  and 
that  in  a  ease  of  measles  it  was  necessary  to  a  success- 
fid  treatment  of  the  disease. 


CHAPTER  IV 
rillL    ASSUMES    COMMAND    AM)   ASSERTS    HIS    AUTHORITY 

There  was  much  alann  among  tliu  scanty  crew  of 
the  Chitiu)  when  the  ])itiable  state  of  tlicir  leader  was 
discovered,  and  tlie  engineer  was  especially  loud  in  his 
l)rotests  agaitist  attempting  to  continue  the  voyage 
under  such  disc(jui'a<iinf>-  conditions.  He  declared  that 
none  but  madmen  would  think  of  doing  such  a  thing, 
and  that  unless  they  immediately  returned  to  kSt.  3Li- 
chaels  they  would  all  perish  in  that  wilderness  of  icy 
water  and  fro/en  mud.  At  first  the  millwrights,  who 
had  lieretofore  had  no  exj)erience  in  rough  travel,  were 
inclined  to  agree  with  him  ;  but  l^hil  stated  his  view 
of  the  situation  so  clearh',  and  was  so  sturdily  suj)- 
ported  by  Serge,  that  they  were  finally  won  over  to 
liis  wav  of  thinkinij.  So  the  discontented  engineer 
was  forced  to  yield  to  the  wishes  of  the  majority. 

Five  miles  from  Pastolik  they  stopped  at  the  Eski- 
mo village  of  Coatlik  for  a  suj)])ly  of  wood,  and  here 
Serge,  with  his  ability  to  speak  Russian,  proved  inval- 
uable. Not  onlv  did  he  conduct  the  Avood  neootia- 
tions,  but  he  succeeded  in  purchasing  a  number  of 
freshly  killed  wild-geese,  which  were  at  tliat  time  Hy- 
ing southward  in  vast  flocks.  Above  all,  he  secured  a 
native  ])ilot,  who  promised  to  go  with  them  until  tliey 
met  running  ice. 

Nor  did  the  services  of  the  young  Russo-American 
diminish  one  whit  in  value  after  Coatlik  was  left  be- 
hind.      He   alone   knew    how    to    prepare    the   broths 


• 


I'll  I L    ASSIMKS    (OMMANI) 


21 


TIIOIUTY 

crow  of 
idcr  was 
iitl  in  liis 
■  vovaf^e 
ivcd  that 
a  thing, 
0  St.  Mi- 
ss of  icy 
;hts,  wlio 
vcl,  were 
liis  view 
ilily  sii})- 
over  to 
engineer 
■itv. 

he  Esld- 
antl  here 
eil  inval- 
n  egot  ia- 
mb er  of 
lime  liy- 
securcd  a 
ntil  they 

American 
s  left  bc- 
le   broths 


wliich  fdnncil  ihi'  sole  notirishment  that  the  sick  man 
was  able  to  take.  He  only  (•(■aid  converse  with  the 
native  i>ih)t,  and  hai'ii  from  him  the  mysteries  of  tlu' 
TniLrhtv  river.  He  it  was  who  was  always  cheerful, 
and  coidd  swing  the  lustiest  axe  when,  as  often  hap- 
pened, thcv  were  ol)lige<l  to  renew  tlu'ir  supjily  of  fuel 
iVom  chance  drift  piles;  and  it  was  he  who  must  at- 
tend the  sick  man  at  night,  l)ecause  the  faintest  mur- 
mur served  to  wnke  him.  So  Serge  was  the  very  life 
(if  that  di'earv  vovage,  and  but  for  him  Phil  knew  it 
must  have  lieen  abandone(l  long  Ixd'ore  they  ri'a(died 
the  haven  for  which  they  were  steering. 

And  it  was  a  dreary  voyage.  Day  after  day  wit- 
nessed the  same  monotony  of  turbid  waters,  so  wide- 
spread that  one  bank  was  often  invisible  from  the 
other,  and  a  deadly  level  of  drowned  lands  bounded 
oiilv  I»v  the  low,  far-away  horizon.  Day  after  day 
brought  the  same  gray  skies,  chill  winds,  rain  squalls, 
and  tluvrles  of  snow.  Every  night  saw  heavy  frosts, 
and  it  grew  hourly  more  apparent  th;it  the  stern  reign 
of  winter  was  close  at  hand. 

At  lon<j:  intervals  lonelv  groups  of  sod-cf)vered  huts 
gave  sign  that  human  beings  dwelt  even  in  thos(!  un- 
lovely wastes,  but  save  for  fuel  tlu'  young  command- 
ei' of  the  <'/iiiiio  would  not  ]iause  to  make  their  ac- 
<liiaiiitanc(\  From  earliest  dawn  until  <lusk  he  forced 
the  little  craft  at  full  speed  against  the  swift  current, 
often  grounding  on  sand-bars  in  spite  of  the  native  pilot, 
whose  onlv  knowledire  was  of  the  best  channel  but  not 
of  its  obstructions. 

After  two  days  they  began  to  see  low  hills  on  the 
north,  and  on  this  side  the  river-bank  became  notice- 
ably higher.  Althougli  this  was  encouraging,  it  i)ro- 
duced  but  slight  impression  on  the  spirits  of  the  dc- 
])ressed  crew,  whose  situation  was  indeed  becoming 
alarming.     They   were  worn  out  with  anxiety,  over- 


T 


22 


sxows[rr)i:s  a.vt>  si.kimjes 


Hi! 


work',  ami  iiisullicitiit  lood,  I'oi-  tlicy  had  iicilhcr  tlu; 
time  nor  iiidiiialioii  to  do  any  cookinu^  oxcupt  tor  tin* 
sick.  The  captain  lay  in  a  .statu  of  semi  -  stU[)oi",  and 
jinotlicr  cot  within  the  same  enclosure  lichl  one  of  tiic 
niilhvi'ijjjiits,  who  Imd  been  stricken  with  the  dread  dis- 
ease twentv-t'onr  hoiirs  hitei*. 

JJy  the  end  of  tlie  iirst  week  in  October  thoy  were 
some  two  Innidred  niih'S  from  the  month  of  tiie  river, 
with  nearly  one  hun<lred  yet  to  i^o  before  they  could 
I'cach  iViivik,  to  i;ain  which  JMiil  was  directiui^  all  his 
cneri^ies.  lie  knew  not  what  they  would  lind  there; 
but  he  liail  an  intuiti(jn  that  help  of  sonu,' kind  awaite<j 
them  at  that  point.  At  any  rate,  he  was  determiiUHl 
to  reach  it  somehow. 

On  the  7th  of  October  ice  l)ei>an  to  run  in  the  I'iver, 
and  with  its  Iirst  appearance  the  native  ])ilot  it)siste«l 
upon  stai'tiniij  back  towards  his  now  distant  homo. 
That  night,  amid  the  howlinijsof  a  tempest  that  threat- 
ened to  tear  tin;  C/iinio  fr'oin  her  anchorage,  the 
stricken  millwright  died. 

When  Phil  went  to  the  engiiUM-r's  room  to  report 
this  distressing  ncMs  he  was  iillc(l  with  wrath  to 
iind  that  individual  lying  in  his  bunk  and  indulging 
to  excess  in  tin;  contents  of  a  case  of  brandied  peaches 
that  he  had  stolen  from  the  cargo. 

Without  a  word  Phil  picked  up  the  case  and  flung 
it  into  the  river.  "  Fll  see  you  again  in  the  morn- 
ing, sir,  wlien  you  are  sober,"  he  said,  as  ho  left  the 
room,  and,  loekiig  the  door,  put  the  key  in  his  own 
})ocket. 

That  nluhi  of  storm,  death,  and  des))air  M-as  one 
that  neither  Phil  nor  Serge  will  ever  forget.  For  long 
hours  they  sat  by  the  bedside  of  the  captain,  whom 
they  believed  to  be  sleeping,  discussing  in  k)W  tones 
tlieir  melancholy  situation. 

Suddenly  they  -were  startled  by  a  voice   from  the 


\  \ 


rUTL    ASSUMES    roM.MAND 


tlicr  tlio 
■j  for  tli(! 
\\M)\\  and 
ic  (jf  the 
road  dis- 

loy  wero 
li(^  river, 
uy  could 
[f  all  lii^ 
il  there  ; 
aw  aited 
termiiied 

1)0  river, 
iiisistoti 
It  lioino. 
It  threat- 
age,   the 

to  report 
A' rath  to 
ndiilgiiig 
I  peaches 

md  flung 

ho  niorn-- 

)  loft  the 

his  own 

M'as  one 

For  long 

in,  whom 

ow  tones 

from  the 


sick  man,  who  sai<l,  feehlv,  "  (itl  me  to  Anvik,  hoxs,  if 
v<»n  can.  and  you  will  save  niv  life." 

It    was  the  tJi-Jst  linio  ho  had  spoken   i-at  ionullv   for 
several  days,  and   lln'v   had  no   idea  th.it    hr  was  cNcn 
conscious    of    their    prosoneo;     hut      I'hil     answered 
|irorn]itIy,    "All    right,  captain;   wi-MI   get   you    there, 
never  fi'ar.'' 

"  "N'es,"  a(hled  Scrg(^,  eho(,'riIy,  "  you  may  rest  easy, 
sir,  I'or  whc!i  Phil  uses  that  torn;  ho  means  just  what 
lie  s.iys,  and  I  know  that  I've  got  to  back  him  up." 

Xcitlicr  <'f  the  lads  got  more  than  an  hotir's  sleep 
that  iiiu'lit,  and  long  Itcforo  dayliglit  they  were  again 
at  work,  riiil  and  th(>  surviving  millwright  were  got- 
tinu'  up  steam,  while  Serge  was  taking  unusual  ])ains 
in  preparing  i)reakfast,  for  they  all  realized  that  they 
must  now  lay  in  an  extra  supply  of  striiiLCth. 

l\oi  until  hreakfast  was  ready  was  .Air.  Sims  released 
from  the  coufnu'inent  of  his  room.  After  eatim'  his 
nn-al  in  sullen  silence  ho  said  lo  Phil,  "Well,  voung 
man,  what  do  you  proj»oso  to  do  1o-dav  V" 

"I  propose  to  jMish  on  up  the  river  as  usual." 

"And  who  are  you  <j;oing  to  get  to  run  your  en- 
giuo.-' 

"  I  expect  you  to  (h)  it,  sir." 

''  W  ell,  you  are  o.Mpocting  a  good  deal  more  than 
you'll  got,"  cried  the  man,  rising  from  the  tahlo  in  his 
exeitenunt.  "I've  boon  ])ullied  by  a  ])arcel  of  boys 
jii<t  as  long  as  I  intend  to  bo  ;  so  now  I  want  you  "to 
understand  that  I'll  not  allow  the  engine  of  this  Ixjat 
to  make  another  turn  except  to  run  her  into  winter- 
(piarters,  and  that's  got  to  be  done  in  a  hurry,  too." 

"  That's  exactly  what  I  mean  to  do  with  her,"  replied 
riiil.  (|uiellv. 

'•  Where?" 

"At  Anvikjess  than  one  hundred  miles  from  hero." 

"Hundred  nothing  !"   screamed  the    nian.      "You'll 


24 


sNow-siroi:s  a\d  sledges 


])Ut  licr  in  winter-quarters  within  ten  miles  of  this  very 
spot  or  not  .at  all  ;  I'or  yon  can't  run  the  engine,  and 
Vdii  liaven't  i,^ot  ;i  man  aboard  except  mc  who  can,  and 
you  know  it," 

The  furious  man  liad  stepped  towards  Phil,  and  was 
hliaking  a  treml>lin<(  fist  in  the  lad's  face  as  he  shouted 
these  last  words.      Serine  stood  close  behind  him. 

Just  then  the  younu,"  mate  nodded  his  lie  id  ;  botli 
lads  spranijj  upon  the  man  at  once,  and  in  spite  of  his 
fierce  strui:;<j,'l(S  bore  him  to  the  deck.  In  another 
moment  Ik;  was  securely  and  helplesslv  bound. 

"How  do  we  jTjenerally  dispose  of  mutineers  aboard 
this  ship?"  ask(;d  Phil,  as  he  I'c^'aiueil  his  feet. 

"Set  'em  ashore,  sir,  and  Icaxc  'cm  to  shift  ''or  them- 
selves," answered  Serge,  grimly. 

"  Very  well ;  ami  as  we  haven't  any  time  to  lose,  yoti 
may  get  the  dingey  ovei'board  at  once.  Call  Isaa(t  to 
lielj)  you,  and  tell  him  the  reason  for  this  exti'a  work." 

"You  don't  dare  do  it,"  muttered  the  prostrate  man, 
as  Serge  started  to  obey  this  order. 

"Don't  I?"  (pieried^  Phil.  "If  you  think  so  you 
must  be  ignorant  of  what  cf)nstitutes  a  mutiny,  as 
well  as  of  the  powers  vested  in  the  captain  of  a  ship." 

"But  you  aren't  tin;  captain  of  this  shij»." 

"Perhaps  I'm  not.  At  the  same  time  T  am  acting 
as  captain  by  authority  of  the  ownei-,  and  I  am  ])ei'- 
forming  all  of  a  captain's  duties;  all  of  them,  you 
un>lerstaMd." 

\\y  this  time  the  small  boat  was  ah^ngside,  and 
leaving  the  bewildered  millwright  in  her,  Serge  re- 
gained the  deck,  Avhere  he  awaited  further  instruc- 
tions. 

"Select  such  of  vour  belon^inijs  as  vou  Avish  to  take 
with  you,  and  they  shall  b(!  put  into  tlie  boat,"  said 
Phil.  ' 

"  Oh,  rats  !"  cried  the  man,  angrily. 


I'lIII.    ASSTMKS    COMMAND 


25 


this  very 
c'iiii,  and 

anil  was 
;  si  1  oil  ted 
lim. 

id  ;   hotli 
lie  of  his 
another 
I 

rs  ah'oard 
>t. 
<'oi'  ihoni- 


h)S(',  you 
1  Isaac,  to 
ra  work." 
rati'  man, 

k  so  you 
uliny,  as 
a  ship." 

ni  acting 

am  ])('r- 

iL'in,  you 

side,  and 
Ser^e  re- 
in stru  c- 

li  to  take 
oat,"  said 


"Take  liold  of  !din  I"  ordered  the  mat<". 

Sero-e  ohcved,  and  in  another  minute  the  mutinous 
onLriiiei'r  ft)un<l  iiimself  in  tlie  small  i)oat,  Avhieh  u'as 
actually  heinix  shoved  oil". 

'•S||,i!l  I  hunt  a  native  village  U)  leave  him  at?" 
:i>ke<|  Sel-ge. 

'•Xo.  We  haven't  time  for  that.  Land  him  wher- 
evei'  it  ha]>jKMis." 

''  !.(iok  here,  hoys,"  said  tlie  man,  humhiy,  as  lie  east 
a  sliuddei'ing  ulauce  over  the  iey  waters  and  at  the 
])Ieak  desolation  of  the  shore  beyond.  '  I  weaken. 
Take  me  hack,  and  I'll  go  to  work." 

'•  Will  vou  run  the  engine  as  far  as  .\nvik  V" 

'•I'll  iMin  her  till  you  give  the  word  to  stoj)." 

"And  promise  on  youi"  honor  not  to  touch  another 
di'op  of  liijUiM-  before  this  steamer  is  laid  up  in  winter- 
quart  er>  ?"' 

''Ye<.'' 

So  that  was  the  end  id'  the  mutiny,  and  once  more 
tlu.'  C/thiK)  held  her  way  uj)  the  great  river,  whose 
swift  cuiu'ent  was  now  covered  with  lloating  ice  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 

liUte  that  afternoon  a  new  hewildei'ineiit  confronteil 
the  anxious  lads.  'I'iiey  wen;  in\oiveil  in  a  labyrinth 
of  chamiels,  all  of  about  the  same  width,  and  appar- 
ently pouring  foi'th  eipuai  volumes  of  watei-.  I  Jut 
while  they  all  lo'  l-.ed  erpially  inviting,  oidy  one  was 
that  of  the  main  I'iver  ;  the  oiliers  wei'e  mouths  of  the 
great  Shageiook  slough,  which  "-ould  lead  them  into 
an  \niknown  wihierne^s.  One  meant  safety  and  the 
others  <lisaster.      Ihit   whicli  was  whieh? 

In  this  dilemma  Phil  dei-ide(l  to  anchor  and  wait  for 
.another  daylight.  AVhile  ihev  thus  waited  —  wearied, 
anxious,  and  wellnigh  despairiu'^ — there  came  a  slmut 
from  out  of  the  darkness  that  thrilled  them  with  a.  new 
lite,  f(,i-  the  wonls  were  in  their  own  tou'/ue. 


20 


SNOW-SHOES    ANT)   SLEDGES 


1' 


"  Steamer  aliovl  alioy!  Hello  on  board  the  steamer!" 
i-aiiix  cheerily  from  oil' the  dark  waters. 

"  IIcllo  !  hello!  Come  this  way  !"  answered  Phil 
from  the  pilot-house. 


8 


'A 


I 


steariier!" 
fiud   Phil 


CHAPTER  V 


A    PAKSON    AT    TriE    AVIIEEL 


m 


Phil  liad  been  sitting  alone  in  tlio  pilot-liouse,  wliero, 
in  the  cliill  darkness,  the  weight  of  liis  responsibility 
seemed  almost  too  great  to  be  borne,  lie  bad  held 
out  i)ravely  nntil  this  moment,  bnt  now  it  seemed  as 
tlioiigh  a  great  blaek  wall  of  ditiieidly  wen-  reared 
against  him,  and  that  it  was  gradn;dly  enclosing  liim 
on  all  sides.  The  many  chanm-ls  revealed  l)y  the  wan- 
ing light  of  that  day  mnst  all  be  explored  eri>  the  right 
one  could  be  determine(b  Phil  dared  not  consider 
liow  many  days  might  thus  ])e  spent,  for  he  knew  he 
liad  no  days  nor  even  hours  to  spare. 

At  any  moment  now  the  river  might  close,  ami  ojico 
caught  in  the  relentless  fetters  of  its  ice  the  C/iimo 
nuist  remain  motionless  nntil  crushed  aiid  swept  awav 
by  the  resistless  fury  of  the  spring  floods.  In  the 
meantime  what  would  l)ecome  of  lu-r  little  company, 
■".^•anded  there  in  the  oi)en  river,  exposed  to  the  full 
■  A-y  of  arcti(!  blasts,  remote  from  human  habiiation, 
ai.d  (Miually  so  from  any  visible  sui)ply  of  fuel  ?  They 
L.ui  not  even  the  fur  clothing  without  which  none  may 
spend  a  winter  in  that  i-egion. 

lo  bi'  sure,  as  soon  as  the  ice  would  l)ear  them  ihey 
might  make  their  way  to  some  wretched  ])alive  villauJ, 
and  there  drag  out  a  miserable  existence  during  the  loii<i 
winter  months.  Even  in  that  sorry  retreat  tluuv  could 
I"'  no  hope  for  (Jerald  Ilamer,  who  must  either  be  left 
l):hind  to  perish,  or  taken  with  them  to  meet  an  eqmdly 


2.S 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLKDfiKS 


certain  fate  from  exposure.  As  |)ooi-  Phil  rcnccted 
on  tlu'se  lliini^'s  lie  asked  himselt'  wliy  lie  liU'!  so  obsti- 
iiaLely  foreed  the  exj)editi(iti  I'urtlier  aii<l  tart  her  into 
the  wilderness,  day  al'ter  d;iy,  until  he  liad  at  length 
hrouo-lit  it  to  tiiis  danc^er  ])oint.  Why  had  he  not 
laid  tlu'l)oat  uj)  in  tin;  lirst  winter  liarhor  that  offered? 
He  (  ould  renieniher  that  tlu'y  had  ])asscd  several  vei'y 
o-ood  ones,  some  of  wliicli  were  in  the  vieinity  <d' 
Kskimo  villag'es. 

Why  V  In-eause  he  had  made  uj»  his  miinl  to  reacli 
.\n  -i!:,  and  declared  liis  intention  of  doing  so,  and  his 
Yaw  .  rit  was  not  of   tlie  kind  to  lie  daunted   by 

obstac  nor  luiMicd  back  l»y  them  from  an  uncom- 
pleted duty.  \Vhy  ?  IJecause  he  had  promise<l  Cap- 
tain Ifamer  to  carry  him  to  Anvik,  Phi!  llyder  did 
did  not  often  make  jtromises,  Ijeing  opposed  to  them 
on  general  princi})les,  liut  when  he  did  make  one  he 
kej)t  it.  Why?  Jjocause  while  he  was  thus  thinking, 
that  cheery  voice  came  ringing  out  of  the  darkness, 
bringing  with  it  sucli  a  thrill  of  liojic^  and  relief  that 
just  to  hear  it  was  worth  all  the  toil  ami  anxiety  ex- 
pended in  reaching  that  |)oint. 

Sei'ge  was  (hnvn  in  the  galley  cooking  supper,  and 
whistling  a  melaneholv  little  tune,  tliat  tried  its  best 
to  sound  cheerful  as  he  did  so.  Poor  Isaac,  the  mill- 
wriglit,  homesiek,  grief-stricken,  and  (h'spairing,  was 
working  by  lanterndiglit  on  a  rude  collin  for  Ins  dead 
comrade.  Mr.  Sims,  morose  and  silent,  was  busy  with 
his  nnichinery,  while  Gerald  IlauKU*  tossed  wearii}' but 
weaklv  beneath  the  pile<l-u{)  coverings  of  his  narrow 
])e.l. 

All  heard  the  tlrst  shout  of  that  unknown  voice,  and 
each  suspendi'd  operations  (o  listen.  A\"hen  it  came 
again,  and  tlicy  heard  PldTs  answering  hail,  all  rushed 
to  the  gangway  on  that  side,  that  is,  all  I'xcept  the 
sick  man,  anti  there,  holding  thislung  lanterns  to  txuicU; 


33 


> 
e 

H 

a 


7. 

se 

o 

Si 


1 

'< 

r('i1('olo«l 

• 

so  <)l)sti- 

.' 

thcr   into 

It    l.'iigth 

(I  he  not 

.  ofYercd  ? 

oral  very 

einity  of 

to  rcacli 

),  and  his 

unted   by 

H 

n   uncom- 

Z 

ise<l  ('ai»- 

> 

'yder   did 

2 

^ 

1  to  them 

> 

;e  one  lie 

o 

tiiinking, 

H 
B 

darkness, 

0-t 

elief  that 

a; 

nxiety  ex- 

o 

5< 

l>l»er,  and 

d  its  best 

,  the  niill- 

irin<^,  was 

I-  Ids  dead 

busy  Avitli 

earily  but 

is  narrow 

voiee,  and 

n    it  came 

all  rushed 

xcept   the 

s  to  ijjuide 

^mof^^s^sssp^isRn^ 


il;   t 


m 


A    I'Ai;s(»N    AT   THE    WHEEL 


IJD 


Ilim,  they  cxcitcMlly  awaited  tlio  a ]-> preach  of  the   un- 
kiiowii. 

Wliilu  tiu'v  ]K'erc'(I  vagiioly  into  tlio  i^^looiii,  listcn- 
iii_L,'  for  tiie  slattiii,!,'  of  sails  or  the  rattle  of  oars,  he 
siukleiily  s\V('j)t  alongsitlc,  seated  in  an  Eskimo  kvak 
or  skin  boat,  very  similar  to  the  one  in  which  Phil  and 
Serge  liad  made  their  perilous  voyage  on  iJering  Sea 
a  month  before,  only  much  smaller. 

They  could  st-e  that  he  was  a  white  man,  wearing  a 
thick,  (dose-cut  brown  beard;  but  otherwise  he  mil^ht 
easily  have  been  mistaken  for  a  native,  so  completelv 
was  he  enveloped  in  a  kandeika.  'J^he  hood  of  this 
was  (b-awn  over  his  liead,  while  its  ample  skirts  wen? 
fastened  to  the  coaming  of  the  hatch  in  which  he  sat, 
so  as  to  ))revent  tlie  entrance  of  water. 

"Well,  if  this  isn't  a  bit  of  good-foi-tuiu-,  then  I 
don't  know  what  good-foi-tiine  is!"'  he  exclaimed,  smil- 
ing up  at  the  eager  faces  jx-ering  at  him  from  tlie 
•steanu'r's  side.     "May  I  c(.me  aboard  ';"' 

"Afay  you  come  aboard  V  cried  Phil.  "  Well,  sir, 
I  rather  think  you  may,  for  even  if  you  didn't  want 
to,  1  am  afraid  we  should  ca])lure  you  and  drag  you  on 
board  by  force.  Why,  we  couldn"'t  be  more;  delighted 
to  see  you  if  you  were  the  I'resident  of  the  I'liiu'd 
States  himself." 

"  I  doubt  if  you  can  be  lialf  as  happy  to  see  me  as  1 
am  ^,  meet  with  you  tlius  fortunately  .and  unexj^ected- 
ly,''  laughed  the  stranger. 

"Tnthat  case,"  replied  I'hil,  -you  must  be  tluM'cry 
I'^'It'^'^t  person  in  the  world,  for  vou  have  made  me 
almost  that." 

During   this  interchange  of    courtesies  tlu-   stran-'er 

';'^''   1'<'"n    .inlashing  his   kandeika,  and    now,  stepi.Tix^ 

lightly  Irom  his   fragile   craft,  lie  gained   the  deck,  to 

which  his  kyak  was  also  lifted. 

"Ah!  ),ul  this  iscosey  and  comfortable,"  he  remarked, 


■T^  'W 


30 


SNO\V-SlI()i:s    AND    SLEDGES 


J 
l!  i 


as  lit^  filtered  the  well  liul'ttMl  mess-room,  wliieli  opened 
liom  the  n;illey  and  \\  as  warmed  by  its  ui^lo wing  stove. 
SiTue  liad  just  iinisln-d  liis  preparations  for  sup])er,  and 
tlie  well-laden  niess-talde  did  irideed  ]iresent  a  siL,dit 
ealeulated  to  clieer  the  lieart  ol"  a  hungry  man,  espe- 
cially one  who  had  been  for  hours  battling  with  the 
iee  of  an  Alaskan  river. 

"You  gentlemen  seem  to  be  travelling  and  living 
like  princes,"  continued  the  stranger;  ''  but  I  must 
conft'ss  to  considerable  sur])rise  at  tinding  you  on  the 
river  so  late  in  the  season.  You  are  bound  down  and 
out,  I  presume  ?" 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Phil,  "we  are  bound  up  the 
river,  and  hope  to  reach  Anvik  before  it  closes." 

"AnvikI"  cried  the  straiiger.  "  Why,  that  is  the 
place  to  which  I  also  am  going." 

'•Alone,  at  night,  and  in  a  bidarkie  ?"  asked  Phil,  in- 
credulously. 

"  Yes,"  laughed  the  other,  "though  I  was  only  try- 
ing t(»  cross  the  river  to-night  for  fear  it  might  close 
before  mornino-,  and  leave  me  stranded  on  the  f.irther 
bank.  It  was  a  reckless  thing  to  undertake,  I  acknowl- 
edge, and  but  for  your  timely  presence  I  might  have 
come  to  serious  grief  ere  this.  It  had  grown  so  dai'k 
before  I  sighted  your  lights  that  I  could  no  longer 
avoid  tlu' tloaliiiLi'  ice,  aiul  was  in  great  fear  that  mv 
boat  would  1)1'  cut  open.  You  may  believe,  then,  that 
I  was  glad  to  see  them.  Now,  to  find  myself  seated 
amono-  those  of  mv  own  race,  and  at  a  civili/ed  table 
after  a  rather  trying  experience  of  Eskimo  hos{)itality, 
caps  the  climax  and  renders  my  content  com})lete." 

"  iVro  you  on  a  hunting  or  iishing  ti-i[),  sir?"  asked 
Phil,  anxious  to  establish  the  status  of  this  new  ac- 
•jiiaintance. 

"  Neither,  just  now,"  was  the  laconic  answer. 

"Trading,  pei'haps  V" 


h  opeiiod 
no-  stove. 
j»|ier,  iind 
L  a  sii^'ht 
lan,  espc- 
with  tliu 

nd  living 
t  1  must 
on  oil  tlie 
lown  and 


d  up   the 

es." 

lat   is  tlic 


1  rhil,  in- 


;  only  try- 
iglit  close 
he  farther 
acknowl- 
lo-ht  have 
u  so  dark 
no   longer 
r  that  mv 
then,  that 
'If    seated 
i/ed  tal)le 
os[)itality, 
ijtlete." 
r  ?"  aske<l 
s  new  ac- 

k'er. 


A    TAUSOX    AT   THK    WHEEL 


;u 


''  Not  exactly.*" 

"TravellinL,^  for  pleasure?" 

'•  Ves,  so  far  as  it  is  a  ph'asure  to  do  my  work." 

"  rrospectiiiLj  V" 

*•  Foi-  some  ihiui^^s,  thous^h  not  for  gold.""' 

"In  government  employ':'" 

"  Xo'." 

'•  \Vorking  for  the  company,  perhajts  ?" 

'•If  voii  mean  foi'  the  fur  -  tradin'j;  company,  I  am 
not." 

Pliil  was  nonplussed,  and  knew  not  what  to  ask  next. 
In  I'act,  l)Ut  for  the  stranger's  alfabh;  manner  ami  ([iiiz- 
/.ical  siuih'  he  wuuld  not  have  ))Ushe(l  his  in<piirics  so 
far  as  he  ha<1.  l-'inally  he  said  :  "  I  need  not  ask  if 
you  arc  a  g(H)d  boatman,  for  any  one  who  can  man- 
age a  hidarkie  as  well  as  you  do  must  Ik-  that.  I  do 
want  to  mak(;  out,'  more  in(juiry,  thotigh,  and  I  hope 
you  will  I'xcuse  my  in<piisiti\-encss,  l)ut  we  are  in  dis- 
tress ami  greatly  need   assistance.     ^Vre  you   a  Yukon 

pilot?"' 

'■  l"'or  that  i»art  of  the  river  Ivinii'  hctweeii  here  an<l 
Anvik  I  am,"  replied  the  stranger.  ''In  fact,  1  know 
it  so  well  that  I  would  not  hesitate  to  run  it  in  the 
'dark.  Furthermore,  to  satisfy  your  very  proper  curi- 
osity concciaiing  an  utter  stranger,  who  has  forced 
Jiiiiiscif  upon  youi-  hos])itality,  I  will  say  that  I  am  a 
ti'adt'r,  a  prospect<u",  a  tishi'rman,  a  hunter,  a  boatman, 
a  iiieclianie,  a  writei-,  a  teacher,  something  each  of  a 
lawyer,  a  jiliysician,  ami  a  surgeon  ;  and,  above  all,  I 
am  a  pi'eacher  of  the  Word  of  (rod,  for  I  am  a  luissiou- 
ary  of  the  Protestant  Fpiscojial  C'iiurch,  and  stationed 
at  Anvik.*' 

''Oh,  sir,  are  you,  really?"  cried  l*hil.  ''Then  you 
are  the  very  man  I  have  wante<l  most  to  meet.  Ibul  I 
not  heai'd  that  you  were;  at  .Vuvik,  and  belieNcd  yi.u 
Would  help  us,  Id«m't  think  I  should  iiavt-  dared  bring 


-TTWr 


32 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLED(ii:s 


the  l)i»;it  even  as  far  as  I  have.  1  was  tr\iiiLr  t<>  make 
up  my  luiiitl  what  to  do  next,  and  lia<l  almost  decided 
not  to  attempt  a  fiirtlier  ascent  of  the  river,  l)Ut  to  i^o 
into  th(!  best  winter-(|naiters  we  couhl  fiiul  to-morrow. 
You  see  we  are  all  mixed  uj)  as  to  the  channels,  and 
greatly  afraid  (d"  heinj]^  caught  hy  tlie  ice." 

''  As  well  you  may  l)c,"  re}»lied  the  missionary. 
"Hut,  ])ardon  my  curiosity,  you  s))eak  of  hringing  the 
boat  t,o  this  ])lace  as  though  you  wci'c  her  ca})lain.  Is 
that  the  case  y" 

"No,"  replied  Phil,  with  a  Hush.  "I  am  oidy  licr 
first  mate,  while  Serge  liei'c  is  second,  and  ."Mr.  Sims  is 
engineer.  l>ut  I  am  acting  as  ca|>t:rm  during  the  ill- 
ness of  our  real  captain,  Viv.  (lerald  llamer,  who  is 
down  witli  the  measles." 

"  Indeed  V"  said  the  missionary,  gravely.  "T  am 
very  son-y  to  hear  that,  for  in  this  (dimate,  espt-cially, 
measles  is  a  serious  sickness  and  has  been  a  terrible 
scourge  on  the  rivei*.  I  liave  just  been  spending  a  few 
days  at  one  of  tlie  Shagelook  villages  installing  a  na- 
tive  teacher  in  place  of  one  wlio  died  of  measles  a  few 
weeks  ago.     How  long  lias  your  captain  been  ill  V" 

"Since  the  dav  ve  entered  the  river." 

"And  do  \'ou  mean  to  sav  tliat  you  ha\-e  navisjjated 
the  steamer  all  this  distance  without  lielp?" 

"Oh  no,  sir  !  I  liave  liad  tlie  help  of  Serge,  who  is 
a  capital  sailor  and  can  talk  Russian  besides,  and  of 
Ml'.  Sims,  who  is  a  ilrst-class  engineer,  and  of  Isaac, 
v.dio  is  a.  millwright,  but  who  makes  one  of  the  best 
firemen  I  ever  saw,  and  we  had  ajiother  millwright, 
only  he  died  last  night,  and  a  native  jtilot  i)art  of  the 


way." 
"Well 


you  have  certaiidy  sliown  an  immense 
amount  of  ])luck  and  ])erseverance,"  exclaimed  the 
missionary,  "and  I  don't  think  I  know  another  boy  of 
your  age  who  woidd  have  done  as  well,  for  you  don't 


A    I'AIJSON    AT    THK    W I  IK  EL 


'.]P, 


'\\\fj;  to  make 
Host  (locidcfl 

1',    but    to    <r(> 

I  to-morrow, 
hamiels,  and 


?5 


missionary. 
hrinufinsT  tlic 

"T"        cry 

captain.      Is 

am  only  lu-r 

."Mr.  Sims  is 

riiiy-   tlic  ill- 

mcr,  who    is 

■ly.  ''I  am 
',  especially, 
'11  a  terrible 
nding  a  few 
allint'-  a  na- 
oasles  a  few 
Gen  ill?" 


e  navigated 


crge,  wiio  IS 
id<>s,  and  of 
id  of  Isaac, 
of  the  best 
milhvriglit, 
part  of  the 


An- 
riial  is. 


look  as  though  you  were  out  of  \-()ur  teens  yd 
you?" 

'•Almost/'  answered  I'liil,  again  tliishiiig. 
I  shall  l)e  in  two  years  more.'' 

*' And  Serge?"" 
f      "  lb'  is  almost  as  old  as  1  am." 

"  How  about  Isaac  V" 

'•()li,  Isaac  is  most  tweiitv." 

'■  \VeII,  Mv.  Sims,"  said  the  missionary,  turning  to 
the  engineer,  I  congratulate  you  on  your  crew. 

'•  ^'es,"  assented  tlie  man,  grulHy,  "they're  a  prettv 
]>lucky  lot  of  l)oys.  We've  been  mighty  short-liamied, 
though,  since  the  cap'ii  took  sick,  and  .Martin  died, 
and  my  assistant  was  set  ashore  for  mutinv,  and  I  for 
one  am  powerful  glad  to  see  another  white  man  come 
on  lioai-tl,  even  il"  he  is  a  ]»arson." 

Smiling  at  this  e<puvocal  compliment,  tlie  mission- 
ary asked  if  he  might  visit  the  cai)tain,  and  was 
coiKbicted  by  Pliil  to  the  sick  man's  bGdsi<]e.  As  they 
came  away  he  said  to  the  young  mate:  "Your  captain 
is  dangerously  ill,  and  tlie  sooner  you  get  him  to  Anvik, 
where  there  is  a  doctor,  the  better.  Therefore^  I 
would  advise  you  to  up  anchor  and  make  the  run  t.>- 
iiight,  esj)ecially  as  I  fear  the  river  may  close  before 


inorninsjj. 


5» 


11  immense 
['laiined  the 
)ther  boy  of 
r  you  don't 


r 


CIIAPTFJl   VI 


ri.oATlXii    Ui:    AND    "i'lIV 


.  '» 


IFai'pv  to  sli.'irc  Ills  r('S|)()iisil)Uity  witli  the  straiiij^cr 
Avlio  li;i(I  bc'i'ii  so  ))rovi(U'iitially  sent  to  tlicir  rclicl', 
I'hil  willingly  :inr('C(l  to  liis  |)r(j|)()sal,  and  onlcrt'd  tlii' 
Cldiiw  to  bi!  ai^aiii  n'ot  under  Avay.  'I'lio  uiufht  was 
cloar,  cold,  and  stil!  ;  l)ut  there  M'as  no  moon,  and  its 
darkness  was  only  dissipated  in  a  measure  by  bi-illiant 
starliu'lit.  Tiiis,  however,  was  sullicient  to  disclose  the 
outline  of  the  western  bank,  which  the;  new  pilot  kept 
always  in  sio-ht.  He  seemed  actually  to  be  able  to  I'eel 
his  way  up  the  Tni_ii,hty  river,  avoid'  •■  false  chamiels 
and  sandbars  as  if  by  instinct,  and  -v  hesitatinii;  as 

to  which  side  of  an  island  he  out^lii  lo  pass.  I'hil  oc- 
cupied the  ])ilotdiouse  witli  him,  and  after  a  h^ni^"  si- 
lence ho  exclainu'd,  admiringly,  "  \'ou  sur(  ly  must 
have  been  a  steamboat  man,  sir,  before  you  became  a 
missionary." 

"No,''  laui>;lied  the  other,  "1  ne\t'i-  was  on  a  rivei' 
steamer  until  I  cann-  out  here,  thouuh  as  a  boy  I  did 
have  some  experience  in  running  up  and  down  Lake 
Cham])lain,  near  which  T  lived." 

"In  New  York  .State?"  asked  Phil. 

"No:  in  Vermont,  not  ver\'  far  from  IJurlinLi-ton. 
So,  you  see,  I  am  a  nenuine  Vankei'." 

"■I  might  have  known  it,"  said  Phil,  "from  your 
handiness  at  all  sorts  of  things.  I  wonder  why  it  is 
that,  as  a  rule,  the  Yankee  is  such  a  Jack-at-all-trades?" 

"I  su})pose  it  is  because  he  is  generally  taught  by 


% 


FI,()A1  1N<.     K'l;     AM)   ••  »'IIV 


•  >•) 


their   ivru'l", 
ordcrcMl  the 
I)   niL;ht    was 
oou,  and  its 
l)y  l)rilliaiU 
(liscdose  the 
w  ))ih)t  kejit 
.'  ahU'  to  tVel 
ilse  channels 
lesitating  as 
Phil  oe- 
r  a  h)ni.;-  si- 
sur(  ly   must 
)ii  became  a 

IS  on  a  river 

a  hoy  I  <Viil 

(h)\vu  Lake 


DurHngton. 

"  from  your 
er  why  it  is 

-all-trades'?"' 
y  taught  hy 


iieces>if\  ir.  iho  sliajie  ol'  poverty,"  replied  ihe  inission- 
arv  :  "and  even  it'  lie  were  not  so  tauL;ht  at  home,  he 
eertainlv  wotdd  he  out  liere,  whore  a  man  must  be  able 
to  do  nearlv  everythinu^  for  himself  or  leave  it  undone.'" 

*',IaI;ip  ('ooml)s  was  a  Yankee,"  meditate  I  Phil, 
''  that  i-,  when  he  didn't  feel  that  hi'  was  a  subject,  and 
he  could  <lo  more  kinds  of  ihinns  than  any  one  I  evi'r 
knew,  llow'  I  wish  he  wvvr  witii  ns  at  this  very  min- 
ute I  I  d<»n't  believe  we  coidd  ^et  into  any  scrape  or 
triiuhl<'  that  he  wouldn't  manai^i'  to  ij;et  us  out  of  sonu;- 
Imw."' 

'•  N  lie  dead?"  asked  tlu'  missionarv. 

"No,  indeed.  That  is,  I  hope  iu>t,  though  he  mii^ht 
as  well  be  so  far  as  we  are  concerned,  for  I  don't  sup- 
post-  we  vliall  ever  sec  him  ai^ain.  We  left  him  on  Ooni- 
mak  Isl.md,  Sergu  and  I  did,  and  now  I  supjtose  he  is 
in  Sitka  or  ^'ictoria  or  San  h'rancisco,  or  perhaps  bound 
for  the  other  side  of  the  \\()rld.'' 

IJeing  thus  started  on  the  subject  of  Jalap  Coombs, 
rhil  proceeded  to  give  Ins  new  friend  an  account  of 
their  recent  adventures  in  l>ering  Sea,  and  of  the 
])romiiU'nL  ]iart  taken  in  them  by  the  Vaidcee  mate  of 
the  si'uh'r  SiKiiieir,  in  all  of  which  the  new-comer  was 
decjily  interested.  While  Phil  was  in  the  midst  of 
an  account  of  how  Serge  obtained  lire  from  brimstone 
and  feathers,  the  secoiul  mate  himself  appeared  to  re- 
port that  their  stock  of  fuel  was  nearly  exhausted. 

*'Then  M'e  must  sto))  at  ]\[akagamoot  for  a  new 
supi)ly,"  said  the  missionary  pilot,  })romptly,  "  though 
I  fear  we  may  have  trouble  in  u[ettinc»:  the  natives  to 
turn  out  at  this  time  of  night  ;  still,  with  your  ])ormis- 
sion,  Captain  Uy<ler,  I  thiidv  wo  w^jubl  better  try  it." 

"Certainly,  sir,"  agreed  l*hil;  and  so  the  C/ihtio,  be- 
ing somewliere  in  the  vicinity  of  the  invisible  Eskimo 
settlement  at  that  vcr}'"  moment,  was  headetl  for  the 
west  baidc   of   the   river.     Her   whistle    was   sounded 


r."ry-x     ;iw>^ 


'lll'l 


30 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLEDf-ES 


viii^orously  at  sIkm-I  iiitorvnls,  to  attract  attention,  and 
in  a  lew  minutes  lier  eri'w  had  tlio  satisfaction  of  see- 
incj  a  <4'lo\v  of  tire-light  on  tlie  beacli  i:ot  more  tlian  a 
mile  ahead.  .Vt  the  same  time  there  came  an  ominous 
crunching  of  ice,  and  all  hands  instantly  realized  that 
inshore  the  river  was  already  frozen  over.  The  ice 
was  not  yet  thick  enough  to  stop  them,  though  it 
materially  imj)eded  their  progress  ;  they  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  the  baid<. 

At  first  the  few  sleeiiy  natives  who  came,  out  of 
curiosity,  to  witness  this  unusual  sight  of  a  steamboat 
:it  that  time  of  night  and  thus  late  in  the  season,  were 
♦  lisinclined  to  do  any  work  before  morning  ;  but  the 
aj)|>(-arance  among  them  of  the  missionary,  and  a  few 
words  from  liim,  ])roduced  a  magical  change  in  their 
attitude.  Five  minutes  later  a  long  line  containinsj: 
every  able-bodied  man  in  the  settlement  was  formed 
from  tlie  steamer  to  the  wood-})ile,  and  a  steady  f^tream 
of  cord-wood  sticks,  passed  from  hand  to  liand,  vv^as 
flowing  aboard. 

Within  half  an  hour  every  inch  of  wood  i-oom  was 
lillcd,  t'.ie  nativi's  were  made  glad  l)y  double  the  ])ay 
tliey  had  ever  received  for  a  similar  amount  of  work, 
and  the  C/iuno  was  backing  out  of  the  channel  she 
had  made  for  herself  towards  open  water. 

Only  fifteen  miles  now  lay  between  her  and  Anvik, 
'.nd  though  the  night  had  grown  bitterly  cold,  her  pilot 
held  out  liopes  that  they  might  still  make  the  run 
without  being  ni{)j»ed  in  the  rai)i<lly  forming  ice. 

Under  every  })ound  of  steam  that  lier  l)oiler  woidd 
bear,  the  sturdy  little  craft  cjuivered  to  lier  very  keel 
as  she  nlouu'hed  througli  the  black  waters,  orindimr 
tlie  floating  ice-cakes  beneath  her  bow,  tossing  them 
to  oni'  side,  or  beating  them  to  fragments  with  her 
powei'ful  wheel.  Leaving  the  missionary  aloiu'  in  the 
pilot-house,  l*hil  worked  with  Serge  and  Isaac  at  heav- 


BH 


'iition,  and 
ion  of  see- 
ore  tlian  i) 
m  ominous 
rilized  that. 
,  Tlic  ioe 
though  it 
inally  suc- 

nie,  out  of 
steamboat 
oason,  were 
g  ;  but  the 
,  and  a  few 
igo  in  their 
containing 
yas  formed 
?ady  {Stream 
I  hand,  was 

1  room  was 
1 1'  tlie  ]>ay 

lit  of  work, 
lannel  she 

and  Anvik, 
d,  her  pilot 
<i'  the  run 
g  ico. 

oiler  woidd 
r  very  keel 
s,  grimling 
»ssing  them 
ts  with  her 
d')iu'  in  the 
;iae  at  heav- 


Fr,<)ATIN(.    ICi;    AND    '"  CIIV  " 


37 


iiiLT  wood  into  tlie  roaring  furnace.  In  face  of  its 
fcivent  heat  it  was  liard  for  tliem  to  realize  that  the 
u'l'^ht  was  colli,  and  much  less  that  the  mercury  stood 
ciosi.'  fo  zero. 

Ihit  the  silent  iigurc  gras|)iiig  the  frigid  spokes  u]) 
in  the  j)ih)tdiousc  knew  it,  and  iiis  anxiety  increased 
Avith  each  slow  -  dragging  hour.  \Vas  it  indeed  too 
late  to  reach  a  safe  winter  liiiven  ?  Ifad  he  been  too 
oflieious  and  sel f- confident  V  lie  ahn(»>t  feaix'd  so, 
aiiil  said  as  nuu-li  to  Phil  when  tlu;  young  mate 
came  \\]->  to  iiuiuire  how  iiianv  mih's  more  they  had 
to  go. 

''  Not  a  bit  of  it,  sir,"  cried  the  Jad,  with  all  his  old 
clieerv  confidence  fuliv  restored.  "  Why,  you  not 
oiilv  rescued  us  from  a  regidar  slough  of  despond, 
but  from  the  immim'ut  danger  of  being  frozen  in 
Avliere  we  were  as  well.  If  vou  hadn't  (!ome  alonir  we 
should  certainly  have  stayed  there  until  nu)rning,  in 
which  case  it  is  plain  I'uough  now  that  the  (Jhinio 
would  have  gone  no  farther  this  winter.  Xow  you 
lia\f  ;i.t  least  ])rought  us  within  reacli  of  safety  even 
if  we  shouldn't  move  another  yard,  an<l  you  have 
lifted  a  miLilitv  heavy  load  of  anxiety  frf)m  mv  shoul- 
ders,  I  can  tell  you.  ibit  aren't  we  nearly  there,  sir? 
It  seems  as  though  we  had  conn,'  fifty  miles  instead  of 
iifleeii  since  we  took  on  that  wood." 

"■  Ves,  and  if  it  were  daylight,  which  It  soon  will  be, 
We  could  see  Anvik  now.  When  we  have  made  a 
couple  more  miles  I  shall  head  her  iiito  the  ice.  In 
the  meantime  I  wish  you  would  ask  Serge  to  make  me 
a  jiot  of  his  hottest  cAy,  for  I  am  nearly  perished  with 
tlie  cold." 

"A  pot  of  what?"  asked  Phil,  thiid<ing  r.e  must 
have  misunderstood  the  word. 

"Of  clii/.  Tell  him  a  chy jxri  is  what  I  want,  lie 
will  undiT.stand." 


lyfr 


•■s!r«:.r 


nHMi 


38 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLEDGES 


.llti        '' 


"  Aj'c,  aye,  sir  !  67///  it  is,  .'ind  you  sliall  liavc  it  if 
tliore's  a  drop  to  be  found  aboard  tlie  boat." 

Sertje  Liuglied  at  the  order,  and  hastened  to  iill  it  ; 
wliile  Piiil  followcMl  liitn,  curious  to  see  wiiat  lie  would 
make. 

"Why,  tliat's  tea  you  are  putting  into  the  pot  !"  lie 
exclaimed,  a  few  minutes  later. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Serge  ;  "r//y  is  tea,  and  tea  is 
c'Ay,  and  the  tea[)ot  is  <'/iij/ii/,\  and  c/ii/  yrrt  is  a  lunch 
of  tea  and  bread.  So  tlu're's  a  lesson  in  llussian  that 
I  know  you  won't  forget  in  a  hurry.  Now,  if  you  will 
ciirry  it  up  to  him  I  will  get  back  to  the  furnace  door, 
foi*  poor  Isaac  is  just  about  used  up." 

So  the  young  cajitain  acted  as  stewartl,  ami  then, 
taking  the  wheel  whik;  his  guest  drank  cu])  after  cu|) 
of  tlio  scalding  li(piid,  became  quartermaster,  and  was 
iinallv  restored  to  his  oriijjinal  rank  bv  haviiiiij  the 
missionary  ask  Ins  permission  to  send  the  ('/liino  into 
the  ice.  "  It  may  injure  the  hull  somewhat,"  he  said, 
*'and  })r()bably  will  ;  but  we've  either  got  to  risk  it  ov 
leave  iiei-  to  winter  out  here  in  the  middle  of  the  river; 
for  we  are  abreast  of  Anvik  now,  Vou  will  see  the 
liouses  in  a  few  minutes,  for  <biwn  is  closi;  at  hand." 

"Of  course  we  must  ))ut  her  into  the  ice,  and  rush 
her  just  as  far  as  she  will  go,"  answei-ed  Pliil.  "We 
can  afford  to  damage  her  hull  to  a  very  considerable 
extent  better  tlian  we  can  afford  to  leave  her  out  here 
to  be  crushed  by  tlie  spring  l)reak-up  of  tlie  ice." 

So  in  the  first  ilush  of  m<n"ning  the  brave  little  boat 
was  lieaded  towards  the  western  baidv,  and  began  di- 
rectly to  crash  through  the  thin  ice  fringing  the 
channel.  For  some  distance  she  cut  her  way  as 
though  it  had  bi'^n  so  much  win<lovv-glass  ;  then  her 
progress  became  slower  and  slower,  until  linally  she 
came  to  a  deal  stop,  though  the  l)!g  wheel  was  still 
lashinijj  the  turbid  waters  into  foam  l)eliind  her. 


I'LoATiNc;    ilt:  AM)  '•(;iiv 


39 


ill  liavc  it  if 


.'(1  to  fill  it  ; 
lat  he  would 

he  pot  I"  he 


I,  and  tea  is 
f:t  is  a  lunch 
llussian  that 
',  if  you  Avill 
iirnace  door, 

II,  and  then, 
up  after  cup 
tor,  and  was 

havino;   the 

CJilino  into 

lat,''  he  said, 

to  risk  it  or 

of  the  river; 

will  see  the 

at  hand." 

ee,  and  rush 

Pliil.     "  Wc 

considerable 

her  out  here 

\\v,  ice. 

;e  little  boat 
id  began  di- 
fringing  the 
her  way  as 
5S  ;  then  her 
il  linally  she 
eel  was  still 

111    lu'l". 


"Stop  licr  :  D.ick  ht-r  !  Stop  hw  \  (U>  :diead,  full 
speed  !"  were  tlu'  oivlcrs  ta})|»cd  nut  on  the  engine- 
riH)in  i^-onu',  and  ru>liinL';  at  the  ice  with  gathereil  head- 
M'.ay,  the  Ci'ilino  crasju'd  her  way  through  it  for  a 
liundred  yards  fai-tlicr.  ^V<:;:ain  she  was  ba('kc<],  and 
au:ain  charged  the  eiicniy  with  furious  impetus.  This 
time  the  shocdc  was  terrific,  though  she  did  not  gain 
moi'i'  tli.ui  half  the  former  distance.  Again  ami  again 
was  the  attack  rejjeated,  until  linally  she  gained  barely 
a  length. 

Willi  the  next  sliock  the  steamer  clim1)e<l  the  ice, 
and  ran  nearly  half  her  length  out  of  water  before  tlie 
bari'ier  broke  with  hei-  weiglit,  and  set  her  once  more 
atloat. 

'•That's  all,"'  said  Phil,  -piietly.  "  \\\>  don't  dare 
ti-y  (hat  again.  If  we  did  we'd  |)robably  o))en  every 
s"am  in  her,  even  if  wo  didn't  break  her  l>ack.  So 
that's  all  we  can  do,  and  here  is  where  the  ilihiio  will 
have  to  lie  for  tlu!  winter.  lt\s  too  bad,  though,  for 
A\-e  aren't  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  shore." 

'•  I  doii'i  know  about  lying  here  all  winter,"  ri'plied 
the  missionary.  '"I  don't  like  i*  my^cdf,  and  if  you 
M'onld  i-ather  ha\-e  the  boat  closi;  lo  the  baidv  I  "-uess 
"We  can  manage  to  put  her  there." 

"irou-r\asked   Phil. 

"  Voii  wait  here  ami  get  breakfast  while  I  go  ashore 
on  the  ice.  1  won't  be  gone  nu)re  than  an  hour,  and 
when  1  come  bacdv  Fll  tell  yon,"  was  the  reply.  '■  I 
shall  bring  the  doctor  with  me,  too." 


l"fjf   mr 


CHAPTER  VII 


: 


irn 


,lll 


i() 


THE  "CIIIMO"  GOES    INTO    WINTER-QUAETERS 

Wiiii,K  l?liil  M-jitcliod  tlic  (lopartinii"  missionary,  \\] 
was  making  his  way  cautiously  over  tliu  newly-i'oi'incd 
ice,  the;  late-rising  sun  appeared  above  the  southeast- 
ern liorizon,  gilding  a  cross  surmounting  the  tower  of 
a  little  log-church  pleasantly  located  on  a  high  bluff. 
Back  of  it  rose  the  dark-green  wall  of  a  spruce  for- 
est, while  about  it  were  clustered  a  number  of  low 
but  very  substantial  and  comfortable  -  looking  log- 
houses.  Near  tlu^  beach  at  the  foot  of  the  blulT  stood 
an  Indian  village  of  huts  whose  roofs  l)ristled  Avith 
poles.  In  each  one  was  left  a  srjuare  hole  for  the 
egress  of  smoke  from  the  open  lire  built  on  an  earthen 
floor  beneath. 

Scattered  about  in  picturesque  but  hopeless  confusion 
were  loni;:  ranges  of  pole  frames  for  drvinuc  fish,  nianv 
little  log  -  houses  mounted  on  stilts  and  looking  like 
dove- cots,  the  use  of  which  Phil  c(juld  iu)t  imagine, 
iish-tra[)S,  boats,  sledges,  and  everywhere  dozens  of 
yelping,  prowling,  lighting,  or  sleeping  dogs.  IJesidcs 
these  things  Phil  coidd  see  what  appeared  to  be  the 
black  (diininey-stack  of  some  kind  of  a  mill. 

Suddenly,  a  llag  was  run  to  the  toj)  of  a  tall  pole  on 
top  of  th"  bluff,  and  as  the  Stars  and  Stripes  streamed 
out  bravely  in  llu;  cold  wind  a  rattling  volley  of  mus 
ketry  rang   forth  its  loud  note  of  welcome   from  the 
Indian   village.     To  this    Phil    resp()n(b'd   by  a  vigor 
ous  saliitt'  from  llie  (7i:iiiu\'^  \,histle.      Tlu'ii,  so  uttei'ly 


rili;    "(Hl.Mo  ""  GOKS    INTO    \V1.\  rKR-gUAUTEKS         41 


IITEKS 

ionavv,  avIh) 

\vly-i"oniHMl 

3  soutlieast- 

ho  tower  of 

high  bhilL 

spruce  for- 

iber  of  k)\v 

ookiiig    log- 

'  l)hiil"  stood 

ristled  with 

ole   for  the 

I  an  earthen 

ss  confi'siou 
lt  tisli,  many 
looking  like 
lOt  iniagini', 


(h)/ei 


IS    oi 


r.esid 


es 


(I  to   he  tlie 


tall  pole  on 
les  streamed 
llley  of  mus- 
ic  from  tlif 
|hy   a  vigor 
M,  so  utterlv 


Ml  arv  from  ovei'work,  excitement,  and  loss  of  sleep 
that  merely  to  move  required  a  strong  effort  of  will, 
he  left  the  pilot -liouso  an<l  went  l)elow.  He  found 
Sci-gc  at  tlu'  captain's  l)edsi(h'  administering  a  howl  of 
-roth  and  telling  the  sick  man  of  the  events  of  the 
night. 

As  Piiil  entered,  Gerald  Hauler's  eyes  rested  on  liim 
witli  such  an  expression  of  gratitude  as  the  fornuu' 
will  never  forget.  "I  thatdv  you  two  hoys,"  JU)  said, 
wcukl\', '•  more  than  lean  ev(U*tell.  To  you  I  owe  not 
oidv  nn'  life,  hut  whatever  it  holds  of  \-alue,  and — " 
Jh'i-*'  his  voice  failed  him,  and  Sergc>  hade  him  not  to 
attempt  another  word. 

'•  Ni>,  indeed,"  added  Phil,  '"  for  you  don't  owe  us 
one  cent's  worth  *)(  thanks,  Mr.  Hanuu",  To  the  end 
of  our  lives  we  shall  always  he  in  yijur  del)t,  and  in 
hringing  you  up  the  rivcu-  to  this  point  we  have  used 
youi'  hoat  to  hring  ourst-lves  as  wvW.  So — well,  that's 
all  there  is  to  it,  anyway;  antl  now  if  you  will  only 
hui'ry  tip  and  get  well  we  shall  a})preciate  that  more 
than  all  the  thaid<s  in  the  world." 

'I'hen  .Serge  left,  and  Phil,  .dipping  into  liis  vacated 
ehaii*,  almost  instantly  fell  into  a  sleep  so  j)rofound  that 
it  is  douhtful   if  a  holier  explosion  or  an  eartlupiake 


couhl  nave  aroused  linn 


I  h 


..\n  hour  or  so  later  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  very 
]ierplexiiig  dream,  in  which  he  seemed  to  he  recoNcriiej; 
from  an  illness,  and  the  <»ld  family  ]diysii'ian  at  his 
hedside  kept  changing  into  a  young  woman.  Whih' 
in  the  form  of  an  ohl  man  he  said,  "Yes,  there  are  the 
t  w  o  cajitaiiis,  hoth  evithuitly  sound  asleej),and  no  woii- 
def.  This  is  (.■a])tain  Hamc.-r,  who  would  have  tlied 
long  ago  !)Ut  for  the  devoted  {'ar(!  of  the  two  lads,  and 
this  is  Captain  Kyder,  who  hi-ought  tin'  Ijoal-  up  the 
rivei-  in  the  face  of  all  (djstncles." 

Then,  prtsto!   the  old  doctor  changed   into  a  \ouiig 


?rr-"^ 


— u.ii!  v^^^^ffi^mrmi^^i^mmmm 


\J 


s.NoW-SiloK.S    AM)    >I,i:i)i.K.S 


Ml* 


\\')tii;ii),  \\]\i)  s;ii(l,  ''Poor  l)()y,  I  don't  wonder  tiiiit  lie 
li.'is  fallon  ;isl('t']»,  and  I  only  hope  he  isn't  in  I'oi"  a  sjicli 
of  illness.      He  certainly  ajipcars  feverish." 

\\'itli  this  a  soft,  hand  was  laid  on  l^hlTs  fofehead, 
anil  he  opened  liis  eyes  to  lind  his  dream  so  far  a  reali- 
ty that  t.her(,'  aetually  was  a  youM'j;  woman  heiidiiiLC  <)\-ei' 
him,  and  weai'in<4  an  ev|>!'es--i<)ii  of  anxiety  on  lier  [>li;as- 
ant,  i"aee.     liehind  iiei'  stood  the  ini<sio!iary. 

She  stepped  hack  as  >he  saw  thai  Phil  was  awake, 
;ind  the  poor  hoy,  i'eeallin'j;  vividly  his  didievelled  ap- 
pearance, strn;^<j,"led  to  his  feel  with  a  crimson  face. 

'•  I  <lidn't  know  von  were  .u''>iii,L;'  to  Inan'j;  ladies  to 
SCO  us,"  ]u^  said  in  a  icproachfnl  t(jne  to  his  com])anioii 
of  tlH'ni<j;ht.  ''In  faet.  I  didn't  know  there  was  a  lady 
witliin  a  thousand  miles  of  here.  Fm  sure  ynn  didn't 
menti(Ui  the  f;ict.  \'ou  only  said  you  wt'i'e  goin^"  to 
fet(di  the  doctor." 

"'  And  so  r  have,"  lac.u-Iicd  the  missionary,  "  I'oi-  this 
yonnu,'  lady  is  our  (h)ctor,  and  a  most  excellent  one  she 
is,  too,  I  can  assure  yon.  Slu;  was  jnst  saying  that  you 
di<ln"t  look  at  all  well,  and  Vv'ouderiiiLj:;  if  you  were  goini;" 
to  ha\'e  tile  measles."' 

''  I  had  'em  ionii;  :iu'<>,"  answered  thi'  lail,  ''  and  I  never 
f(dt  hettcr  in  my  life.      I  was  a  bit  sleepy." 

"•  Which  isn't  surnri<in'>'  after  all  \-ou  iia\-e  I'ecentlv 
underLConi,',"  roinarke<l  the  doctoi",  wit  h  a  winning  smile 
1  hat  ser\ ctl  to  estahlivh  friendly  relations  Itetween  t  hem 
at  once,  "  \'ou  see,  We  lia\e  already  heard  of  your 
hi-aNC  St  ruggle  against  our  unruly  I'ix'cr,  and  that,  you 
may  he  pre])ared  for  them  I  will  tell  you  at  once  that 
tlu'ru  are  two  more  ladiies  at  the  station  who  are  (juitc 
anxious  to  meet  the  luu'o  of  so  many  adventuri's.'' 

''Oh  I"'  gas])ed  poor  Phil,  who  liad  Jiever  before  b(»eii 
called  a  liero. 

''  \'es,  but  you  needn't  look  so  ;darmed.  d'hey  artui't 
iialf  so  formichible  a-  I  am,  for  the\-  lia\en'l    the  privi- 


■j'l 


t     , 


Icr  tiii'.t   he 
for  ;i  spell 

s  fol'clicil'l, 
far  :i  rcali- 
■ndiii'^  over 
11  her  jtleas- 

was  awake, 
levelle'l  a[)- 
;()U  ra<'('. 
lo-   lailies  to 
■;  (•()inj»anion 
i>  was  a.  lady 
_'  you  didu'l 
•  re  L;(»in;-;'  to 

rv,  '•  for  tlii» 

lleiit  <)n«!  sli(- 

iiio;  that  you 

I  wert'  Li;oin'j; 

■  ;ui(l  I  lU'Vt'r 

ave  reeently 

iiiuiDL;'  siuile 

iri  Weell  theUl 

;ir<l  of  your 
Ivnd  thai  you 
that 


at    once 


ho  are  (juilu 


AIUUVAI,    OK    nit    Dncmi; 


u1  ures. 


Itefore  IxHMi 


'They  areii  I 
'l    the  privi- 


.rrrjT     *|— 


lH 


'I';.' 


M 


".'li 

11(1) 


TiiK  ''('iiiMo      (joKs  [\T(>  wiMi;i;-(jrAi:Ti.i;s      4:5 

Ici;.' (.{■  (M-doring  i)(>()j)K.    k.  ,1,,  tliiiin's  that    I   ..htiiincd 
willi  my  (li]>loin;i," 

'•Arc  yoii  <^'()iii^-  to  order  hk;  to  do  lliiiigs  V  asked 
riiil,  with  rei'overed  seIf-j)osse.ssioii. 

'•Indeed  I  :iin  ;   for  as  a  doctor  I  dare   issue  orders 
even  to  ;i  steamboat  captain,"'  laiio-Iied  [ho  y<»miL,Ms-om- 
aii.     "I  amo-oiug  to  order  you  to  take  sleep  "in  l)ig  doses. 
It   is  a   famous  remedy  in    l  his  country,  for  our  nights 
are  ah-eady  seventeen  hours  h)ng,  and  steadily  lengtli- 
cniuLr.     Hut,  joking  aside,  I  want  to  congratulate  you, 
Mi:  liyder,  on  your  skilful  care  of  this  i)atient,  whose 
life  has  l)een   undoubtedly  saved  l)y  y,,ur  success  in 
keej.iiig  liini  warm.      Although   he  is  still  a  verv  sick 
man,  I  heliev(!  tlu>  crisis  is  past,  and  that  with  tlio  nurs- 
ing  he   can    have    on    shore    he    will    pull  throu-di    all 
right. 

i|  "I'm  awfully  glad  to  liear  it,"  said  Phil, '•  hut  I'm 
]in/,/.led  to  kn(nv  how  we  ai-e  to  get  him  asliore.  I 
shoiddii't  think  it  would  do  to  carry  him  over  the  ice 
in  the  face  of  the  win<l  that  is  l)lowinL;-." 

^        '"Xo,  indeed,"  replit'd  the  doctor. 

W:  '"So  we  have  made  arrangements  to  caiuy  liini  in 
this  very  boat,"  said  the  missionary,  "and  if  you  care 
to  step  outside  for  a  moment  you  can  see  how  Ave  i)ro- 
pose  to  aceomj)lish  it." 

^  Phil  had  ]>een  wojiderin--  at  the  sound  of  many 
A-oiei-s  and  busy  labor  that  came  from  without,  bu"t 
as  he  gained  the  deck  he  comjnvhended  the  ndssion- 
ary"s  plan  at  a  glance.  Some  lifty  native  men  and 
boys,  directed  by  a  white  man,  were'  hard  at  work  with 
axes,  ice-chisels,  poles,  and  other  implements  ()].enin<r 
a  -•haimel  the  full  whlth  of  tin;  (7ih„o  from  where 
^hv  lay  to  the  shore.  As  fa.<t  .as  a  cake  was  loosened 
It  uas  shoved  under  the  solid   ice  on    the  <lown-stream 

I    Mde   and  alrea-ly  a  passage  was  opened   for  one-third 

;     ol  the  distance. 


'/■f  r 


,*'■' 


,;i; 
S 


;S 


-I 


:'ia 


i-< 


ul: 


U 


HNO\V-l?IlOi:s    AM)    Sl,i;i)(iKS 


"That  is  a  ca])!!;!!  idea  I"  cxclainuM]  Phil,  "and  ono 
tliat,  I  don'l  Ix'licvt'  I  should  liavi'  tlioULrht  of.  Kvcii  if  I 
liad  I  am  afraid  wo  coiihlii't  have  cari'icd  it,  out  hy  oiir- 
sclvc's,  nor  dt)  1  bolievo  we  coiihl  have  induced  those  na- 
tives to  work  for  us  as  thev  seem  williiiLr  to  do  for  von." 

"  Peihaps  not,"'  replied  the  missionary  ;  '*  but  I  tliink 
they  ai'e  fond  of  nie,  for  wiien  I  explained  to  tliem  liow 
nineh  lowed  to  my  timeh'  meetini--  with  vou  last  even- 
in<j;  thev  seemed  only  too  glad  of  a  chance  to  return 
the  I'avor.'' 

"I  didn't  reali/e  that  you  owe(l  anything  to  us," 
meditated  Phil.  ''In  fact,  1  thought  we  liad  l)eeii  in- 
debted to  you  for  favors  ever  since  our  fortunate  meet- 
ing. I)Ut  it  seems  as  though  most  evei'y  one  was 
in  debt  to  souie  one  else  for  assistance  in  times  of 
trouble." 

"Ah,  my  boy,"  replied  the  missionary,  "  thai  is  one 
of  the  fundamental  principles  of  human  life.  From 
the  moment  wc  enter  tliis  world  until  wv  leave  it  we 
are  de])endent  u))on  others  for  everything  we  possess,  in- 
cluding life  itself.  Wherefore  it  becomes  us  to  render 
unto  our  fellows  sucb  services  ns  we  may,  proin]>tly  and 
cheerfully.  But  liere  comes  JSerge,  and  I  am  sure  he 
is  o-()iii<r  to  say  that  breakfast  is  ready." 

"  Yes,"  laughed  Serge,  ''  I  am,  and  I  should  liave  said 
it  long  ago  (^)nly  Phil  was  so  sound  aslee])  that  T  coiildii'i 
wake  him  without  disturbing  the  c;;j»tain.  Hut  now, 
if  he  is  hungry — " 

"If  I  am  hungry  I"  c-ried  Phil.  "I  honestly  believe 
it  was  only  my  ravenous  hunger  that  put  me  to  sleep. 
AVill  you  join  us,  sir  V" 

"I  was  only  waiting  for  an  invitation,"  replied  the 
missionary,  with  a  smile,  "  for  I  didn't  sto|)  ashore  long 
enougli  to  get  anything  to  eat.  Xoi"  do  I  l>elieve  the 
doctor  has  had  lier  l)reakfast:  so  if  Serge  doesn't  mini! 
havinsx  a  ladv  at   his  tabU- — " 


"  jiiul  ono 
KvcMi  if  I 
->ut  1)V  our- 
(1  llutSL'  ii:i- 
(»  Tor  yf>u/' 
hut.  I  think 
.  them  how 

I  Last  eveii- 
i  to  roturii 

uff  lo  ns," 
;i<l  hi'cii  in- 
luiatc  imc't- 
V   one    was 

II  t'unos    of 

that  is  one 
lilV.  Fi-oui 
loavc!  it  we 
J  possess,  ill- 
US  to  render 
roiu|)tly  and 

am  sure  he 

d  liave  said 
at  I  couldn't 
Ihil   now, 

.'Stly  believe 
ue  to  sleep. 

replied  tin- 

asliore  loiiiJC 

l)erieve  the 

loesii't  mind 


Tifi;  "ciirMo     r^ons  into  wixTER-QT'Airrr.Ks       ("> 

''A  ladvV"  stammered  S(M-i,a\  in  dismay,  and  !:,'n/inu^ 
wildlv  aliout  liim.      '*  Is  there  one  r>u  hoanl';'" 

*' Thcri'  ciTtainly  is,"  lauuhcd  tlic  missionary, '"  and 
from  what  she  has  heard  of  your  culinary  skill  slie  is 
iiiosi  anxious  to  test  it." 

A  minute  later  they  were  all  ^athei-ed  ahout  tiio 
('/i!ini>\^  int'>s-talilc,  and  tiie  doctor  was  winnini?  q-olden 
opinions  hy  her  judiciously  ht'stowed  compliments, 
Kven  urull'  Mr.  Situs  was  induced  to  smile  l)y  her  ]>raise 
ol"  his  polishcil  eiiuine,  which  she  declared  outsiione  any 
yet  seen  on  the  Yukon  ;  while  Isaae  was  told  that  the 
mission  saw-mill  was  so  I'riuhtfuily  out  of  order  that 
the  man  of  all  men  most  needed  then;  at  thai  moment 
was  a  mill\vriu,"ht. 

'I'Ih'  ]»Ieasant  meal  was  hardly  linished  when  a  ^reat 
pliout  from  outside  announced  the  completion  (>f  the 
canal,  'i'lieii,  with  Phil  at  the  wheel,  whiK'  the  mission-^ 
ai'y  aiiil  tiie  doctor  occupied  the  pilot-liousu  with  him, 
and  with  llai:;s  at  half-mast  for  the  dead  man  in  her 
C'ahin,tlie  stanch  little  ChluKt  steamed  slowly  up  the 
narrow  channel  to  the  berth  she  was  tooccu]>y  it>r  the 
next  eio-jit  months.  As  A\'d  reached  it  tlu'  mission  llai^ 
Ma>  dipped  in  salute,  and  then  hoisted  to  half-mast  in 
sympathy  with  her  sorrow. 

So  the  eventful  voyaij'e  (d"  four  hnndre«l  miles  from 
St.  .Michaels  was  ended  ;  and,  thanks  to  the  lads  whom 
(Jeiald  Hamer  had  rescued  from  the  cruel  waters  of 
Berinu'  Sea,  he  and  his  ])roperty  were  now  moored  in  a 
safe  haven.  .Vnd  it  was  none  too  soon,  for  that  vt'rv 
ni^lit  the  cold  was  so  intense  that  the  Yukon  was 
frozi'u  from  bank  to  bank. 

Ihit  Phil  did  not  care,  nor  did  Scrffe.  They  had 
reached  the  ^'oal  towards  which  they  had  set  their 
faces  with  such  sturdy  determination,  and  for  them 
neither  cold  nor  storm  had  any  pres(!nt  terrors. 


''r'Tf 


$ 


^ 


'■;ii 


il!   ■■'■ 


CIIArTER  viri 

T.IFK    AT     AN    AliCTIC    MISSIOX 

TiiK  first  tliini;  to  Ix'  uiidcrlakcii  after  tlic  Cliimo 
was  safely  moored  in  jut  sniiij;'  bertli  was  tlie  removal 
of  (ilerald  1  lamer  to  tlie  little  louf  hospital  tliat  was  the 
]»rido  of  the  doctor's  lieart.  This  was  a(  <  )m|)lis]ie(l 
witlioiit  any  dan!:,'er  from  exposure  hy  means  of  a  caii- 
vas-covored  litter  especially  ('onstruete(l  for  the  oeea- 
.sion.  1\)  be  undressed  for  tlie  lirst  lime  in  many  (Lays, 
ujiven  a  \\\\y\\\  l)ath,  and  ])laeed  in  a  he<l  that  was  actu- 
ally spread  with  sheets  was  to  be  so  "  lapped  in  hi.xiiry  " 
tliat,  as  the  siek  man  whispered  to  l*hil,  any  one  who 
wonldn't  i^et  well  under  such  conditions  deser »  ed  to  die. 

The  second  duty  was  the  burial  of  poor  ?-I..rtiii,  for 
whom  a  injrave  was  already  ])re])are(l  in  the  (pniint  lit- 
tle cemetery  of  the  settlement.  The  rude  edllin  was 
borne  by  his  late  shipmates,  aiul  tlie  entire  community 
of  Auvik,  natives  as  well  as  whites,  followeil  the  body 
to  its  ]ilace  of  final  rest.  Xever  had  I'hil  been  so  im- 
pressed with  the  solemn  beauty  of  the  l^)iscopal  sir- 
vice  as  whtMi  he  listened  to  its  i^rand  utterances  amid 
the  surroundings  of  that  wild  Xoi'thern  land.  'V\\r 
low-hanujinLi:  sun,  the  moan  of  the  wintry  Avind  througli 
the  sombre  forest,  the  attentive  grouj^s  of  dark-skinned 
natives,  the  miLihty  river  rollini^  its  tawny  flood  at 
their  feet,  and  the  encirclinii;  solitudes,  vast,  silent,  and 
mysterious,  ceiitriuG^  at  that  sim})le  urave,  combined  to 
form  a  }»icture  that  none  of  its  sjiectators  will  ever 
forget. 


1 


MM-;    AT    AN     AliCTIC    MIS.<I<i\ 


47 


r  i1k'    CJihni) 
.  the  removal 
that  was  tlic 
[ici  •)in])lis]i(Ml 
'ans  of  a  can- 
t'oi"  the  ocea- 
11  many  days, 
liat  was  actu- 
.h1  hi  luxury  " 
any  one  who 
»ser»('(l  to  die. 
)!•  ";*,I..rtin,  for 
he  (piaiiit  lit- 
(U'  eolUii  was 
iH'  (.•oinmunity 
\vi'(l  the  hody 
il  been  so  iui- 
^piscopal  ser- 
eraiices  amiil 
hind.      Til- 
Av'nid  throuuli 
dark-skinned 
wny   ih)od    at 
ist,  silent,  and 
',  combined  to 
ors  will  ever 


When  all  was  over  the  livinLf  left  the  (had  with 
the  diad.  and  relun)"d  t  n  t  heir  Jioines.  Mveii  I'hiland 
tSeri;*.'  declined,  on  tlir  jdea  (»f  utter  weariness,  tln^  jirof- 
fcrnl  iiDSpitality  <>f  tie-  mission  for  that  niiL,dit,  and 
went  hack  to  their  own  (|uartei's  aboard  the  C/iihio, 
wlicif  for  the  next  tw<'nty-four  liours  they  sle[)t  al 
most  without  intei!iiissi<»ii. 

'riuii  thev  were  ready  lor  atiyl  hin-^-,  and  when  ihey 
aLraiii  presented  themselves  at  tiie  mission,  clad  in  new 
suits  taken  from  the  steamer's  ample  trade  stock,  the 
hidie>  found  it  ditlicult  to  realize  that  these  handsome, 
wid  -awake  voimLi'  fellows  were  tlu(  same  who,  jiea\'y- 
eved,  unkenip!,  and  ready  to  <lrop  with  exhaustion,  had 
In'ou^lif  the  ('/i!iii(>  lo  |iort,  two  days  Ixd'ore. 

Noi-  did  it  seem  to  tile  boys  that,  they  could  lie  in 
the  same  ]ilaee,  I'or  while  they  slept  1  he  river  liad  frozen 
C(»mpletely  over,  a  fall  of  snow  had  infolded  all  nature 
in  its  spoth'ss  inanlle,  and  now  tin;  wliole  world  lay 
f>parklinu'  in  unclouded  sunlii^ht.  If  they  ^vel•e  ama/.ed 
at  the  ehanL,'e  in  the  aspect  (d'  the  mission  they  were 
abo  delighted  witli  tlie  missionary's  liouse,  wliich  they 
now  entered  for  tlu;  iirst  time,  Xot  since  leaving 
f:;r-a\\ay  New  London  had  either  of  tliem  seen  any- 
tliiuL:'  to  compare  with  the  prettiness  and  comfort  dis- 
pla\-ed  in  this  wilderness  house  on  the  verj^'e  of  ai'ctic 
Alaska. 

There  M'cre  books,  mapjazines.  and  ])ictures,  rni^s  and 
potted  ferns,  a.  small  organ,  luxurious  divans  and  easy- 
chairs,  a  museum  of  native  curios,  and  many  other  iio- 
tlci'abh;  (d)jeets  of  use  or  oi-namcnt.  In  an  immense 
fireplace  a  cheery  ]>la/,e  roared  and  crackliM],  and  bcd'ore 
it  a  tine  big  eat  ]iurred  forth  Ids  contenl.  In  tlie  eyes  of 
the  l)oys  there  was  notlung  lacking  to  the  jierfection  of 
this  inlerioi-.  .Vnd  yet  it  was  all  \ery  simple  and  inex- 
pensive. .ATost  of  the  furniture  Avas  honu-- made,  the 
divans  were  cusldoned  witli  feather.s  from  native  wild- 


m 


s\ 


48 


SX0W-?;iIOES    AND    SLEDGES 


fowl,  ;ii^(l    lh(!   ru<j:^   wci-c   troi)]ri('s    from    neiuhborinir 
foi'cst  or  waters. 

The  missioiiarv's  familv  (■on-^isicd  of  liis  wife,  the 
doctor,  a  yoimg  lady  tcaclici',  and  a  white  man  who 
liad  charij^e  of  the  saw-mill.  iJesides  these  there  wei'c 
a  few  brii^iit  native  bovs  and  <2;irl.s  who  were  under 
special  instruction. 

While  the  lads  cliattcd  with  the  ladies  ami  marvelled 
at  their  surroundin<i;s  one  of  tiie  native  boys  was  seen 
a|>))roaehing  the  house,  whei'eupon  its  mistress,  saying, 
"All!  there  comes  the  mail,"  went  tothedoor.  "Xotli- 
ing])ut  the  })aj)er,"  slie  annonnce(l  on  h'^r  return;  ''but 
we  sliall  at  least  learn  the  l;ite-1  news." 

"•J  had  no  idea  thai  you  li;id  a  mail  ser\  ice  in  the 
winter,*'  remarked  Phil,  innoctntly,  "nor  that  there 
was  a  ])a[>er  published  in  this  part  of  the  world.'' 

"  Oil,  dear,  ut)!  It  isn't  })ublished  here,"  laughed  tlio 
iiiissioiuiry's  wife,  '"It  is  a  New  "\'oi'k  pa])er,  ami  only 
a  weekly  at  that  ;  still  it  is  better  than  none,  and  bt- 
ing  of  this  week's  (kite  its  lu'ws  is  <piito  recent.    S(.'eV"' 

So  saying  she  lield  out  the  paj>er  for  Phil's  inspec- 
tion, and  to  his  amazement  lu!  saw  that  it  was  indeed  a 
New  \'oi'k  j)aper  beai'ing  the  date  of  October  -iOth. 
Not  until  Serge,  to  whom  this  haianless  deception  Mas 
an  oldstoi'y,  bi'oke  out  with  the  laughter  he  could  no 
hunger  restrain  did  it  flash  into  Phil's  miml  that  thr 
]iaper  was  a  year  old,  and  then  he  could  have  thumped 
himsidf  for  his  stn])idity. 

"You  see,"  explained  the  missionary's  wife,  "  wo 
onlv  I'eceive  mail  once  or  twici'  a  vear,  and  then  Ave  <;et 
such  a  (juantity  of  pa))ers  that  we  cannot  jx^ssibly  read 
them  all  at  once.  S(j  we  lay  them  aside,  and  have  them 
dclivei'ed  oneat  a  time  on  their  reuadar  dates,  bv  whicli 
means  we  receive  two  or  tlnaje  newsi)apers  every  wei'k 
dui'ing  the  year." 

"  What  a  capital  idea!"  exclaimed  Phil. 


eitj 


rhborini' 


s  w 


U'e,  tlu" 

e  man  wlu> 

thcro  w'vw 

were  under 

(1  mrvrveluMl 
vs  was  seen 
ress,  savinLT, 
Notli- 


a 


)()r, 
■turn 


rvK'c   in  iiu 


l)Ul 


th 


\vo\ 


that  there 
hi." 


'  huiuhed  tho 
per,  and  only 
lone,  and  !»*- 


econ 


t .    See 


?hirs  insjH'c- 
was  indeed  a 


)etober 


>Olh 


c"('('pti<»n  Avas 


ic  con 


hi  1 


10 


lUK 


I   that  thr 


lave 


s    wiu 


fc 


wo 


1  then  ^ve  <j;ei 
1 


toss 


ni 


ibly  rea< 
1  have  the 


in 


lies,  by  whiel 
•s  every  weel 


IJFK    Al'    AX     AIUTIC    MISSION' 


49 


"  Isn't  it?  And  i!  is  suc]i  i!;ood  trainin;:;  for  tlie  boys, 
wli.i  ;u'c  allowed  to  act  as  |iostnien,  'i'hen,  loo,  we  Use 
the  iianers  in  scliool  in  jilaee  of  I'eadinu'-books,  au'l   so 


ave    tr( 


■>!l  tnjiies    with   wiucil    to  interest,    the 


•  i-!iolar 


evei'V  week.  <  )ii  this  account  oiir  readiiiLi'-class  is  s(» 
popular  lliat  it  lias  nearly  outii^rown  the  eaj)acity  of 
our  school-room;  l)Ut,  thanks  to  Caplain  Ilaniei",  we  arc 
to  liavt'  a  new  one  in  the  spriiiu'." 

'•Iiidet'<ll      Is  lie  LjoiiiL;-  to  ])nild  yon  one?" 
''He  is  ali-eady  haxiiiL;-  it    built,  and  it   is  to  serve  as 
viiur  winter-(p  arters  >o  h)nL;'  as  yon  leniain  with  us,  af- 
ter which  it  is  to  l)e  presented  to  the  nrissi(»n." 

This  was  so  int er(  st iiii;'  a  bit  of  news  that   the  l)ov.s 


niu>t  visit  the  liospital  at  once 


iM  u-a 


rn  what  plans  t 


U' 


leailer  of  their  e.\'|)edition  had  maile.     'I'hey  f<iiind  him 
far  recovered  as  alreadv  to  take  an    interest    in  his 


so 


su 


iToundiiiu's,  and  able  to  talk  finely  with  them,  lie 
told  them  that  with  a  view  to  the  future  neeils  of  the 
school  the  new  buihliiiL;  was  to  be  forty  feet  loiii;'  by 
t\\'  ntv  wiile,  though  for  the  sake  of  [)resent  wai'inth 
and  coMit'oH  it  was  to  he  dividi-d  into  several  small 
sh'e]iinu'-rooins,  a  larL;"e  liviiiu-rooin  lor  the  use  of  the 
('hihin'.<  crew,  and  a  store-i'ooin  for  such  l;'o<h1s  as  it 
was  di'enie<l  best  to  remove  I'rom  the  steamer  for  safei* 


iveejilllL;". 


I 


11    It.  '  e 


xplalncil  the  ca]itain,  '"we  will    make   our 


thunined  sihcs  as  comfortable  as  jxissible  for  the  winter,  ajul  in 

the  -priiio-  we  will  ]iush  on  foi'  the  diLjyinLjs.  AVith 
the  four  hiindri'd  miles'  start  we  have  ^ot,  thanks  to 
viHi  hoys,  we  onu'ht  to  rea<'h  them  in  time  to  do  a  lat- 
tliii'j,'  business  bcd'ore  the  conipan\'s  boats  net  there.'' 

'Mhit  how  a\)out   n-oiiiL;-  out    by  way  of  Chilkat  for 
yiMir  next  year's  supply  of  u'oods  ?"'  (pieried  Phil. 
"<>li.  that   ]ilan  must    be   u'iveii    up,  of  course,  and   I 
4  must    maki'  up  my  mind   to  sacrilice  a  year's  business 


u- tiie  fun  V\v  hail  with  the  meash'S.      'riictiip  fr 


om 


-y 


.IIUULIUMUIHUNIIMWU 


li    I 


iiii| 


i  W   Ji- 


50 


SN()\V-SlI()i;s    AM>    SI.KDGKS 


Iktc  in  the  dead  of  uiiih  r  \v<)ul(l  ho  a  loufjjli  one  for 
llic  ,slr()iiL;isl.  i>i'  men,  for  it  iniisi  be  all  fl  1\V(>  tli'U- 
saiul  iiiik's.  It,  will  (asily  take  me  tliu  yv>1  of  the  wiii- 
1,('i'  to  ren'am  sti-cii^lli  cnoaurli  to  ^'o  on  with  liu;  hoat 
in  tlio  spring,  so  tiicn-'s  no  nse  thinking  of  tiiat  ti'ip 
now.  I'll  manage  to  send  you  hoys  out  somehow  next 
Slimmer-, Avliich  is  the  nearest  lean  eoisie  tokeei»ing  my 
eo?i!i'aet  with  vou.  In  the  meantime,  ^\■llile  T  am  sorrv 
tor  your  (lisappointmeiit,  i  am  very  glad  of  your  e<tni- 
pany  and  servie<'s." 

'•  ^'ou  don't  think,  then,  that  it  would  I)e  ]>ossil)h' 
for  us  to  go  out  this  winter  hy  way  of  Forty  .Mile  ;:nd 
the  eoast  and  make  our  way  to  the  Sound,  or  I'ven  to 
San  I'^raneiseo,  ,'ind  ordei'  your  goods  for  you  ?"  sug- 
ge»ted  IMiil,  in  \\'hosi'  mind  this  wild  sclieme  had  sud- 
denly assumed  sliape. 

"  Vou  two  inexperieneed  boys  !"  exidaimed  the  c"a]>- 
tain,  ama/ed  at  the  audacity  of  the  ))roposition.  "Ccr- 
taiidy  n(jt.  Wh}',  1  don't.  belie\'e  either  of  you  knows 
how  to  use  snow-slio(>s,  or  to  drive  a  team  ol"  dogs,  (>!•  has 
tlie  least  idea  of  wliat  fifty  below  zero  means.'" 

"•  1  think  1  know,"  said  Serge. 

"  Which  -r 

'••All  of  those  things,"  re})lied  tlie  young  llu>s(i-Anu'r- 
ican. 

"You  know  more  llian  T  do,  then,  or  over  exj)eet  to, 
for  T  liaAc  never  dri\cn  a  dog-team.  .\s  for  INiil  hei'e. 
I  am  certain  that  he  knows  nothing  al)out  any  one  of 
the  three." 

"I  ludieve  I  could  learn,"  said  the  boy  fi'om  New 
rjondon,"and  I  know  IM  be  ghnl  of  the  chance." 

"  Wcdl,  you  can   study  those  things  right  here,  an«l 
while   you   are  learning  wliat  fifty   Ixdow   zero  mea!!- 
you'li   be   <dad  enough   to  have  a,  well-warimd  hou-c 
near  b\-  in  which   to  study  the;  results  of  your  li'ssoii 
Vou'M  liiid  plenty  to  occupy  your  time  in  this  immeih 


LIKE    AT    AN    AKCTK;    ]SnSSI()N 


oi 


r]\  one  for 

two  tli''n- 
.r  ihc  wiu- 
h  \]\c  1)<>;U 
iT  thai  Ivii' 
lehow  next 
coe\iiiif;'  my 

1  am  sovi'V 
f  your  com- 

1)(\  possililc 

ty  Mil^'  "'"'^ 

^  ,,r  "'Vi'U  to 

you?''   suo-- 

lUL'  had  siul- 

nviX  tl>''  ^^'^'■ 
itioii.  "<.'>•'•- 
f  you  l^ll«)^vs 
r  (loo-s,  or  has 


ln>so-Ami'r- 

■r  cxjK'cl  \o, 
>r  riiil  \\v\\\ 
any  one  ot 

ly  from  Nc'W 
•liam-e. 
■  hi  hiM-e,  aibl 
/(•ro  niea!i>- 
arnud  house 
vour  U'ssoii. 
this  in\nu'd!- 


ati-  viciiiitv  for  the  next  few  niontlis.  So  doiTt  tliink 
auv  more  of  tlir  crazy  scheme  you  have  just  j»ro|)(>se(l, 
lor  I  can't  ]iossihlv  '^ivc  my  consent  to  it.  If  I  shouhl 
tiius  l<isc  >\'j;\i{  of  you  I  >liouhl  spend  the  I'cst  of  my 
(iavs  in  mortal  terror  of  nu'elini;-  .Mr.  John  Ryder  and 
ha\  in<4"  him  demand  to  know  wiiat  I  had  ihjne  witli  his 
ho\-.  Now  1  shall  hav(?  to  ask  you  to  leave  me  for  a 
while,  as  1  am  too  tired  to  talk  any  more.'' 

As  soon  as  the  hoys  were  outside-  Phil  asked,  "  How 
do  you  (h'i\t'  do''s,  SriL:'(' '.■'  Do  yon  ha\e  lines  to  eacli 
one,  ol"  ollh'   t  o  1  lie  lem ie!"  V 

"'  \'oii  don't  dri\-e  them  with  lim^s  at  all,"  laughed 
the  otliei-.  '•  Nor  do  you  go  neai"  them.  \'ou  sonie- 
tiints  run  beside  the  sh'd<.';e,  hut^  jM'nerally  I'chiml  it,  so 
as  to  I'li^h  on  the  l;andled)ar  o\-ei"  obstructions,  or  to 
li,ni'.r  on  and  hold  back  in  ociiuM-  down  stee|)  places. 
h'roni  iliere  you  talk  to  the  dogs,  and  encourage  them 
with  a  whip  of  walrus- hide  or  seal -skin  that  has  a 
liandh'  about  sixteen  inches  long  and  a  lash  of  aljotit 
eiu'h't'en  feet.  To  produce  the  slightest  ell'ect  on  your 
teiiin  you  must  be  able  to  crack  that  lash  with  a  report 
liiu'  a  pi.vtol-sjeit  in  either  ear  of  any  dog,  or  to  lleck 
;iny  one  of  tlieni  on  any  (h'signated  part  of  the  1)ody. 
^iiu  must  also  learn  the  language  that  your  dogs  are 
ai'"ust(uned   to,  for  thev  will  nav  no  attention  to  any 

•.1ft  ft. 

other."' 

"And  art'  snow-shoes  a  necessity?" 

"  Certainly  lliey  are,  f(U-  without  tluun  you  would 
often  sink  out  of  sight  in  drifts,  while  even  in  soft 
suow  (if  nio(h'rate  depth  they  ar<    indispensable." 

"  ^\  ell,"  siglu'd  l*liil,  "it  seems  as  though  one.  had 
to  learn  a  great  deal  before  he  can  travel  far  in  this 
cotnitr}';  ])ut  1  suppose  if  others  ha\(',  I  can.  So  let's 
go  and  borrow  a  ])air  of  snow-shoes  and  have  a,  lesson 
at  once.  I  sup[)ose  I  might  as  well  begin  the  Jvskinn* 
.?'whip-])ractice  and  dog-language,  too  ;   for  with  Buch  a 


ii'2llil\ 


7f|r"'»H51'-2 


»i 


# 


i' 


ROl 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLEDGES 


loiic,^  journey  ahead  of  us  we  uiusln't  waste  any  niorc 
time  tlian  is  absolutely  necessary  on  pn  rmiinanes." 

"  Wiuit  long  journey  ?"  asked  Serge. 

"  Our  journey  up  the  river  to  Forty  Mile,  and  so  or 
to  Chilkat,  of  course.  You  didn't  imagine  avc  were  go- 
ing to  loaf  here  all  winter,  did  you  V" 

"  liut  the  captain  won't  give  his  consent." 

"  Oh,  we'll  manage  that.  Besides,  we've  got  to  get 
to  Sitka  some  time,  you  know,  or  our  parents  will  be 
oetting  anxious  about  us." 


1 


any  more 


,  and  so  or 
\-v.  were  go 


got  to  get 
nits  will  be 


CHAPTER  IX 


PHILS    ESKIMO    MILITIA 


Pin  I.  aiul  Sergo  (lrop))0(l  very  easily  into  the  life 
ol'  the  mission,  mikI  (]iiickly  became  interested  in  its 
work.  The  missionary  had  always  found  more  or  less 
troiiMc  with  the  ohler  Indian  boys,  wlio  were  almost 
r-ady  to  take  their  ]>la(;e  in  the  tribe  as  luinters,  and 
So  t'fh  themsi'lves  ratlier  above  going  to  school  with 
the  children.  Wiien  Phil  learned  of  this  difliculty  he 
conceived  a  plan  for  overcoming  it,  which,  witli  the 
mi-sioiiary's  consent,  he  at  once  proceeded  to  ]»ut  into 
execution.  It  was  notliing  more  nor  less  than  to  form 
the  unndy  boys  into  a  military  coni])any.  He  had  keen 
an  ollicer  in  his  own  school  company  at  New  London, 
and  even  Serge  had  !)ecome  fairly  wi'll  drilled  <liiring 
tlie  year  lie  had  spent  there. 

Phil  an<l  St-rge  had  already  formed  the  acquaintance 
of  an  intelligent  young  Indian  named  Chitsah,  t^on  of 
Iviualla,  who  liad  once  been  in  the  emploj''  of  an  Amer- 
ican exploring  ]iarty,  from  whom  he  had  gained  a  fair 
knowledge  of  Knglish. 

'I'liroiigh  Chit  sail,  therefore,  Phil  issued  an  invita- 
tion to  all  the  Iniiian  lads  iu'tween  llu;  ages  of  twtdve 
and  eighteen  to  meet  him  and  Serge  in  th.e  large 
Si  hool-room,  which  was  cleared  of  its  furniture  for  the 
pai'pose,  thai  very  evening,  as  he  wante(l  to  teacli  them 
a  new  game.  About  one  <lo/.en  boys  acce]>ted  tliis  in- 
vitation, and  a  disreputable,  slouchy  api)earing  lot  they 
Were,  all  cla<l  in  cast-otf  or  well-worn  garments  of  civ- 


M  f 


i 


iiiiij 


54 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND    SI.KDGES 


ilization,  and  looking  as  tliougli  lialf  a.  named  of  boin;,' 
thciH'.  As  ]*}iil  afterwards  said,  lie  ('xpectcd  oacli  ni<<- 
nicnt,  to  sea  thcni  become  panic-si ricken  and  make  a 
l)n'ak  for  tlio  dooi". 

IJy  tlie  aid  of  Serine  and  Cliitsali,  wlio  acted  as  intcr- 
])reters,  Pliil  explained  that  the  new  game  was  called 
"soldiers."  He  said  that  all  who  wanted  to  join  his 
company  and  come  to  that  ])lace  three  nights  of  ihc 
week  for  drill  might  do  so,  })r()vided  each  wonld  first 
nnd<e  for  himself  a  wooden  gun  like  llu;  one  he  had 
prepai'ed  that  day,  and  which  he  now  showed  them. 
After  a  "while  they  would  give  an  exhibition  drill  to 
which  all  their  friends  should  be  i..vited,  but  in  the 
meantime  everything  that  took  ])lace  a*,  their  meetings 
was  to  be  kept  secret  from  outsiders.  'I'hen  the  young 
drill -master  put  Serge  through  the  manual  of  arms 
and  a  few  marching  movements  to  illustrate  bis  mean- 
ing. 

The  boys  quickly  comprehended  the  idea,  and  were 
charmed  with  it.  Some  of  tlieni  l)egan  instinctively 
to  stand  straiijht  and  throw  back  their  shoulders  in 
imitation  of  Serge.  Vriien  Phil  ranged  them  in  a  line 
toeing  a  chalk-mark  drawn  across  the  floor,  and  ihen, 
stepping  back  a  few  })aces,  (tailed  out,  "  'Tention  !" 
every  one  of  them  assumed  an  attitude  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  that  of  a  soldier,  and  stood  motionless. 
Then  Phil  pinned  a  band  of  scarlet  clotb  about  the  left 
sleeve  of  the  largest  boy,  who  was  known  as  liig  Si- 
dorka,  and  told  him  he  might  wear  it  for  one  week, 
after  which  it  would  be  given  to  whichever  one  of 
the  companv  the  others  should  decide  to  be  the  best 
drilled. 

The  next  evening  twenty  Ixn's  a))})eared,  and  every 
one  brouLjht  with  him  a  wooden  <j:un,  all  nea.h'  ainl 
Bome  beautifully  made,  ^Vt  this  meeting  they  were 
given  their  permanent  positions  in  the  ranks,  taught 


1 ,1 


■4- 


I'liii,  s   i;>ki.mm  >rii,rnA 


.).) 


m1  of  l)oiiii; 
(l  cucli  in<>- 
11(1   make  a 

cd  as  inter- 
was  callc'l 
to  join   iii- 
[JflltS   of    tlif 
would  iirsl 
OIK'  ho  liad 
[)\ved  thc'iii. 
,ion  drill  to 
but  in  the 
L'ir  meetings 
n  the  young 
ual  of  arms 
le  liis  inean- 

:'a,  and  were 
instinctively 
lioul(!ers   in 
m  in  a  line 
,  and   I  ben, 
Tentio!! '/' 
arino;  sonic 
motionless, 
bout  the  left 
n  as  liiii;  Si- 
•  one  week, 
■  ver  one   tii 
be  the  best 

I,  and  every 
neady  anil 
o;  they  wciT 
anks,  taught 


u: 


a  •> 


to  count  '*  foui's  "  at  tlu;  word  of  cotnmanil,  to  bold 
llu'iuxd,  •■  erect,  to  '"carry"''  and  to  "shoulder'"  arms. 
'i"iii'\-  were  also  g'ucn  to  understand  that  the  eomi)aiiy 
\va>  now  full,  and,  until  after  tlie  exlubition  drill,  no 
iMurc  iiu-nibei-s  would  be  admitteil.  This  at  once  u;ave 
iiien\ber>liij»  a  ^■alue  that  made  it  seem  very  desirable. 

Oil  this  occasion,  after  the  drill  was  over,  Serge  pro- 
(luceil  a  muuber  of  illustrated  books  and  ])a])ers  eon- 
taining  ])ictures  of  soldiers,  the  nu'aning  of  which  he 
exjilaiiu'il  with  such  success  as  to  lully  arouse;  the  in- 
terest of  his  dusky  audience.  As  a  ri'sult  (d'  this  e\- 
jieiiinent  the  yoimg  llusso-Ameriean,  who  had  worki'd 
^o  IiiMwIy  for  his  own  education,  found  himself  with- 
in a  week  ti-aching  an  enthusiastic  reading- class,  in 
w  hicli  (.'Very  member  of  Phil's  military  company  was  a 
willing  scholar. 

The  missionary  was  jubilant  over  these  successes, 
and  declared  that  with  a  do/en  such  helpers  as  Phil 
and  Serge  he  could  hav(!  every  Iiulian  on  the  Yukon 
in  school  within  one  year. 

In  the  meantime  our  lads  were  not  neglectful  of 
their  own  aifairs.  AVith  every  al)led)odied  Imlian  pro- 
curable enlisted  in  the  work,  the  new  building  was  com- 
pleted by  the  ('iid  of  the  first  week,  and  for  some  days 
the  ("////y^o'.'-' crew  found  ample  oceuipation  in  furnish- 
ing and  storing  it.  Then,  too,  under  instructions  from 
Serge,  Chitsah,  or  Kurilla,  Phil  spent  every  spare  mo- 
ment of  daylight  in  learning  the  art  of  snow  -  shoeing, 
niastei'ing  the  terrible  l^skinio  whi]*,  and  ac([niring  a 
vocabiiliiry  of  doL!,--lan'j,'uaL;'e. 

He  got  many  a  tumi)le  on  his  snow-slioes,  and  took 
liidici-ou->  "headers"  into  numy  a  deep  drift,  where  he 
\\<»uld  lloiinder  helplessly  until  rescued  bv  some  of  the 
delighted  spectators  of  liis  mislia]is.  The  long  whip, 
too,  tried  its  best  to  strangle  him  ])y  winding  in  snaky 
coils  about  his  iicvk,  or  to  tantrle  itself  in  bewilderinix 


W'J' 


i 


[ 

i 

J- 

% 

; 

i 

|i 

■      \ 

u 

1      ' 

i 

1 

r 

1 

66 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AM)    Sl.KDai':^^ 


knots  around  his  lc'<]rs.  As  for  his  vocnhiihirv,  it  was 
(MioiiLfli  to  provoke  laughter  iu  the  most  tse(hite  of 
sledge  dogs,  and  created  n|)roarious  mirth  among  the 
linman  occu])ants  of  tlie  Indian  village.  In  spite  of  all 
dillleulties,  Phil  persevere<l  Avitli  nnal)ated  energy,  un- 
til gradually  his  I'cct  and  the  snow-sluK's  began  Id 
work  togctJier,  He  actually  succeeded  in  cracking  the 
snake-like  whij)  so  that  the  sound  could  Ik;  lieard,  and 
Ivurilla's  line  team  of  hushv-tailed  <h)L;s  heuan  to  i)rick 
up  their  sharj)  ears  nnderstandingly  when  he  addressed 
them.  ]\Iany  a  spin  did  he  have  on  the  I'iver  l)ehind 
this  lively  team,  with  l\urilla  running  l>esi(h'  the  sledge 
and  cracking  Ids  mighty  whip  until  its  re]iorts  rattle<l 
like  a  fire  of  musketry.  When  at  length  Phil  was  al- 
lowed to  run  with  the  sledge  instead  of  occupying  it 
as  a  passenger,  and  the  entire  control  of  the  tt'am  was 
intrusted  to  him,  he  felt  ])rouder,  as  Jalaj)  Coombs 
used  to  say,  than  was  becoming  to  a  mere  mortal  man. 

J>ut  his  pride  was  quickly  humbled,  for  ere  they  had 
gone  a  mile  the  dogs  discovered  that  they  had  no  rea- 
son to  fear  his  whij),  and  that  his  unintelligible  com- 
mands nught  l)e  treated  \\\\\\  contemptuous  indilt'er- 
enc(>.  Suddenly  ]Musky,  the  leader,  who  had  .'t  grudge 
of  h/Ug  standing  against  Amook,  one  of  the  big  steer- 
dogs,  turned  like  a  Hash  and  darted  furiously  at  his 
enemy.  In  an  instant  the  whole  team  was  rolling  in  a 
confused  inass  of  yelping,  snarling,  sna])ping,  and  bit- 
ing fur,  with  traces  tangled  in  a  thousand  knots,  sledge 
going  to  smash,  and  ])andemonium  reigning  generally. 

Pliil  stood  by  in  helpless  (consternation,  and  not  un- 
til Ivurill.i,  running  u|)  in  breathless  haste,  Hung  him- 
self bodily  into  the  melee,  did  he  have  the  faintest 
honi'  thai  aiiv  doo-  would  emeri'-e  alive  from  that  sav- 
aii;e  conflict. 

Another  time,  as  he  thought  he  was  meeting  with  com- 
plete success  in  driving  this  same  team,  and  was  thoi'- 


rilli,  S    ESKIMO    Mir.ITIA 


111 


irv,  il  was 
sudaU'  of 
nnioiiii;  the 
spite  of  all 
3ncr<jfv,  mi- 

I.    »    ' 

5  l)('«ji;aii    l'> 
•ackiiiuj  tlic 
heard,  ami 
an  to  prick 
[»  addressed 
vcr  l)eliiiid 
[■  tlie  sledge 
oris  rattled 
l>hil  was  al- 
ceiipyinii;  it 
U'  ti'ain  was 
lap  Cootnks 
mortal  man. 
>re  tlu'V  lia<l 
I  had  no  rea- 
.i;-il)le  eoni- 
ns  indiifer- 
id  ;.  Li;ru(l2;c 
'  hii;-  steer- 
usly  at  his 
rolling  in  a 
nL!;,  and  bit- 
iiots,  sledge 
<_X  generally, 
md  not  nn- 
,  Hung  hini- 
he  faintest 
ni  that  sav- 

g  with  coni- 
id  was  thor- 


i 


:> 


oU'^tiK'  enjoying  a  ride  in  the  sledge,  the  dogs  suddenly 
stopped  shoi't  aM<l  refused  to  go  on.  The}'  ^at  oii  their 
liauMclies,  with  wagging  tails,  and  looked  up  at  l*hil 
with  pleasecl  expressions,  as  lju)ugh  I'ejoieing  over  the 
di-coM'i'y  that  they  nee(lirt  work  unless  they  ehose. 
And  liiere  they  sal,  in  spite  of  all  their  driver's  ell'orts 
lo  move  them,  until  he  was  in  despaii',  when  with  equal 
siid<lenness  they  spr.ang  up  and  dashe(l  away  homo 
with  the  eninlx'  sle(lge,  leaving  Iiim  to  follow  on  foot 
as  he<t  he  might. 

His  lir>t  real  jouiaicy  by  doL;-sledgi-  was  to  the  Eski- 
mo \illage  of  3Iakagamoot,  fifteen  miles  down  tin;  riv- 
(■)•,  and  was  taken  in  cfjiupaiiy  with  the  missionary, 
who  was  accustomed  to  ^■isit  this  place  once  a  month. 
Tliey  went  in  two  sledges,  with  Ciiitsah  as  runner,  and 
i*iiil  took  with  him  a  small  lot  of  goods.  l"\)r  these 
(icrald  Ilamer  wished  jiim  to  ])rociire  several  suits  of 
fur  clothing,  in  making  which  the  Eskimos  greatly  ex- 
eel  their  Indian  neighlxtrs. 

While  the  entii'e  coast  of  Alaska  noi'th  of  the  great 
]>cniiisula  is  inhabiteil  liy  Eskimos,  thev  never  j)ene- 
Irate  far  into  tli(>  interior,  and  only  for  short  distances 
alon'4-  the  ])rincii)al  rivers.  Nor  do  the  Indians  of  the 
iiileiior  ever  occupy  the  coast  territory.  Thus  in  the 
present  case  ^lakagamoot  was  the  last  wholly  Eskimo 
settlement,  and  Anvik  the  first  in  which  Iiulians  ])re- 
dominated,  on  tlu^  Yukon. 

^lakagainoot  was  a  much  more  thrifty  village  than  its 

next  neighbor,  though  at  lirst  sight  its  eight  or  ten  laro-e 

houses  lookeil  oidy  like  so  many  gi'iat   iin'erted  l)owls 

or  hillocks  of  snow,      'i'hese  winti'i"  residences  are  in  a 

i  gi'eat  j)art  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  where  they 

■'  ai'c  neatly  lined  with  wood  <;r  whalebone,  and  are  e\'- 

irenudy   comfortable   after   their    fashion.    Thus   only 

^  iheii-  snow-covered  roofs  a])pear  above  the  surface,  and 

\  ill  the  centre  of  each  is  a  scpiare  smokediole,  that  ad- 


'V 


8lf 


i 


IW 


I 


it 


58 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND    Sl.KlM.KS 


mils  siicli  <l;iy]i'_rlit  ;iii<l  oulci-  ;;ir  ;m  liml  liicir  \v;iy  t'» 
the  inUrior,  ^Vccos  In  ihoc  ilwrlliiius  is  <r:iiiic(l  liy 
iiicaiis  of  tuiiiiel-likc  ;i))|)rn;ir]i(  s,  i  liroif.'li  uio-t  <4'  wliirii 
M  man  miisl  crawl  mi  liaiids  ami  l;i!i'c<. 

I>;i(k  of  till'  <hv('llinu's  nxr  Iwciiiy  or  tliirty  of  wli.ii 
I'liil  liail  ('.i!!('l  I'xj;  dove-cots,  alioiil  six  t'ccL  Mjiia;''' 
and  l;i'4-li,  nionntctl  on  icai-foot  jujsts.  lit,'  n(t\v  knew 
llicin  to  lie  ]ii'o\  i-^ioii  caclics  or  storcdioiiscs  I'oi'  tiiM 
smoked  of  di'ieil  li-li  ;ind  meat  tlial  l'iii'ni>lied  tlie  en- 
tire winter's  >ni)])ly  of  I'immI  iVn-  tlie  \  illu'^e.  They  ai'e 
tlins  const  I'lict  ed  to  insure  tlieii*  contents  aLjain-;  the 
lioi'de  (>['  w  olti'-lidookinLi'  <io'jfs  that,  exci'  ^azc  at  tliem 
^\■ith  lnin',;i'y  htnL;in'4:<.  i-'oi' the  sinne  reason  all  sIe(Io-es 
and  skin-covei'ed  hoats  mu>l  he  st<'red  on  sealVolds 
erected  for  the  jtui'jiove. 

Pliil  anil  the  misvionai-y  received  an  ujiroarious  \s-el- 
come,  em]ihasi/,ed  1)V  a  <j'reat  llrinu'  of  u'uns,  at  this 
(|uaint,  I^skinn)  \ilh'iu'e,  and  were  conducted  to  the 
l;aslii;'a,  oi"  ]»rinci|)al  huildinL:',  v/hich  is  at  once  lov.ii- 
liall,  hotel,  bath-hou-e,  and  general  as>emldy-i"ooni  for 
the  settlement,  as  well  as  the  v*int(i"  residence  of  all 
unmai'ried  men. 

So  ^reat  was  the  heat  in  this  ]»lace,  so  stilling;  its 
atTn(is])li('ro,  and  so  horrible  its  odoi's,  that;  ])oor  J*hil 
<i;asj)ed  for  breath  on  enteiann'  it.  In  \ain  did  he  at- 
tempt to  jiartake  of  some  of  the  delicaeies  ])i'es>e:l 
upon  theli-  i^aiests  by  the  ho-pitable  natives.  IJaw 
seal's  li\er,  st rijis  of  r<'indeer  I'at.ilried  lisli,  salmnii 
roe  that  had  been  kept  for  many  weeks  in  a  hole  in 
the;  n'round,  and  cariliou  b()ne>  split  so  that  the  mar- 
row miL!;ht  be  sucked  from  them,  succeeded  each  other 
in  rajiid  suece.-sion.  Phil  was  hunury,  but  not  hunu'i'V 
enouu'h  tor  any  of  t  In  se. 

Nor  (a>u]d  he  forc'c  himself  to  I'emaiu  in  that  tei'ri- 
ble  atnnxjihei'e  loiiix  enouu'li  to  witness  the  we<ldiiiL;' 
of  an   Eskimo   girl  with  a  white  man,  a   liussian  ex- 


1 


rir  Nviiy  t<> 
(.iaiiird  liy 
4  (if  wlii'li 

t V  <»r  NN  1i;i' 
ii(»\v  kiit'W 

;CS  t'l'V  t!p' 
icl  tlu"  cii- 
Thcv  aiv 
an;;illl-;  tlu' 
/('  :i!  liHiii 
I  all  >1c<1,!j:<s 
>ii    scatVol*!^ 

oarinus  \\v\- 
uns,  at    llii:^ 

•U'(l      ID     llu' 

oner  lov.ii- 
l)lv-r(»om  I'T 


llclU'U 


of 


slillinci;  its 
])()()r  riiil 
(lid  lu'  at- 
U'S  ]iri's>f'l 
ives.  liaw 
isli,  salmon 
a  a  lioU"  ill 
il    tlu'   IIKIV- 

I  each  otlii'i' 
loi  Imnu'ry 

II  tliat  tiMTi- 
In-  wumMIh.!:' 
llussiaii  cx- 


IMilAN     i.llil.S,    ALASKA 


r 


!!ii 


..i. . 


[t 


I'lIII,  S    KSKIMo    .Mri.iTiA 


50 


cmployr  of  III,.  ,,M  fur  (•()mj)aiiy,  wlii.-li  w.is  il,,.  Urst 
•  Iiity  the  jiii»i()ii;iry  was  called  upon  (,,  |M.rl",,nii.  Tlu; 
iiini-tilicd  lad  was  sorry  f.  tlius  disappoint  his  kind- 
lirartcd  and  wcli-inc-aniiii,^  c-nU'rlaiiirrs  ;  l,iit  there  was 
no  help  I'or  it.  So  with  swiiiiinin--  head  ati.l  uneasy 
>loiiiacii  ho  made  a  break  Tor  the  phiee  (d'  exit. 


WfT^s^ 


■p""»p 


mmmmmim 


CHAPTER  X 
A   SAD    ROMAXCI':    OF    TIIK    \VI  [.DKHXESS 

From  loiisjj  familiarity  with  such  inicriors  as  that  of 
\\\(\  k;l^-lln•a,  ami  hy  a  powerful  exercise  of  will,  the 
missionary  was  able  to  I'eiiiaiii  Ioiili;  after  ])oor  Phil 
had  laki'U  his  (le]»arturo,  and  also  to  j)artake  of  several 
of  tlu!  Kskiiiio  dainties  already  mentioned.  It  was 
lai'L^ely  by  thus  confoi-minL;^  in  a  measure  to  the  wa\s 
of  the  natives  when  with  them  that  he  had  t^aincil 
their  contiilenee  and  ae<]uired  the  popularity  tlrit 
jKived  the  way  for  futui'e  usefulness.  Still,  it  was 
with  a,  i;reaL  sii^h  of  relief  ami  an  ea<j;er  inhaliiiiji;  of 
fresh  air  that  he  linally  emerged  from  that  fetid 
at  mospiiere. 

Phil  in  the  nujantime  liad  been  amusing  himself  hv 
climbing  the  dome-like  roofs  of  the  hou>es,  and  ob- 
taining such  glim|)ses  as  he  might  (»f  their  interiors 
through  tlu'  smoke  -  hoh'S.  lie  ne\'er  ga/.e(l  loii^ 
though,  for  the  vile  odors  issuing  from  those  apertures 
always  drove  him  away  after  a.  singb;  glance  below. 

"  How  can  human  beinL>-s  endure  siU'h  \W\  disgahl- 
ing  snu'lls?'"'  he  I'xclainu'd,  as  the  niis.>;ionary  rejoined 
]  1  i !  M  . 

"They  are  not  vih>  and  disgusting  to  them/'  laughed 
the  othei.  "If  noticed  at  all,  they  are  extremely 
agiH'cabh  .  \()U  must  reuienibei-  tliMt  tlu'  a1mos|>hefc 
which  you  liml  so  unendui-aldc  is  lIuiL  to  whiidi  tlir 
Eskimo  has  always  been  accustomevl.  .Vs  soon  as  ln' 
is  burn  his  entire  body  is  liberally  tsmeared  with  rancid 


A  SAD  1;. t.MA.xt'K   oi"   Till;  \vi I.I >i;iixi;ss 


01 


ESS 


of  Avill,  tho 
L-  p(K->r  Phil 
c  of  sovci'ul 


IM 


1.      It   wa^ 


to  thr  ways 

hatl   ij^aiiUMl 

uhirity    lli'.l 

Still,  it   was 


)S 


IH'C 


below 


'111, 


lauoh 


I'll 


oxtreinrly 
almosphovc 
1  wliicli   tin- 


am 


1  to  tlu'  (lav  (if  liis  death  this  cMaiino-  ,,('  rry 


v:\s' 


iVcniiciitK'  iTiu'Wed,  ail'oi'tls  lii.s  l)e>l  protection  a^'aiii^t 
cuM  and  W(-t. 


a  lie 


<d'  food   a)'e   tisli   and  niea!    often    in 
>tatf  "I'  partial  dfca},  and  always  odoi-ous.      Thus  li 


-lllr 


at    to  vour  unaceiistoint  d   no-irds  are   >o  of- 
fensive, are  to  him  associated  with  all  that   makes  lil'e 
]ilia-anl  or  even  ])ossil)le.      .Vt  tlu;  same   lime   he  ex- 
iViliits   tlic    i;'i'eatcst   aversion    to   those    jtcrfiimes   that 
as  tliat  of  Y,,ii  coiisidi'r  most  jdeasinu,",     \  \.  hill  of  eoloi^ne  will 


make  him  ill,  and  ilo 


wei's  iMatto  ns  ar('  sweet-scent 


eo 


arc 

MIIC 


to  him  uncndiirahle,      Idiiis  you  s(>e  tlu'  sense   of 

like  ;dl   other  senses,  can  be  educated  to  adapt 

il-clt'  to  any  conditions^  and,  hajipijy  for  the   !\>kimo, 

he  tinds  nothing  objectionable  in  the  nauseous  othirs 

suri-omidint;'  hiiii." 

"d'liat  is  so,''  r(>jlected  l*hil,  "for  now  I  renu'mher 
that  the  Aleuts  of  the  Prlhylolf  Islands  could  not  un- 
iidialinsj;  "1  der>land    what   I    meant    when    I    eompkiinud   of   the 

1    that    fetid  awtii!   >tcnch   I'isimx  froiu  tiu'  «leeomposinL;"  bodies  of 

thousands  (d"  seals  hing  at  their  very  doors." 

With  the  aid  of  the  missionary  atid  Chitsah,  i*hil 
tradi'd  off  the  small   stock  of   u'oods  he   had   bi'on".--!!! 


himself  by 
^es,  and  <d»- 

lieir  interiors  \\itl)  ITnu  for  half  a  do/en  parkas,  oi-  outer  gai-ments, 

^a/.ed    loni:'  niade  from  reiiuuer  skin  with  the   hair  still   aiiachcd, 

c>  apertures 


as 


many  pairs  of  uiutei-  ])oots,  and  a.  nund)er  of  othei- 
ai'ticlcs    maile    iVoiii    seal-skin,      ivaeh    of    the    parkas 
Kile,  disgu^i-  liad  a  hood  at  the  back,  winch  could  be  drawn  ii])  ovi'r 

iry  rejoiiK'tl  :  the  liea(b  The  edge  of  this  hood  was  trimmed  with 
I  wolf-skin  taken  from  the  ])ack,  where  the  h;ur  is  long- 
i  est.     AViien   the   liood   is  in   use   these  loic''  hairs  sur- 

■'■-1 

i   round  tlu'  wi'art^r's  face   with   a,  bristliuLT   fringe  that 


",  a 


tforcb 


a  surprising  atnount  of  protection  from  di-iviii; 


now  aim  icv  winds. 


IS  so 


on  as  lu 


with.  raiK' 


The  tarhossa.  or   Eskimo    boots,  were    made  of  tln^ 
in  of  reindeer  legs  on  whi(di  tiu    iiair  is  short  and 


'r-rj'-^w* 


^asse^sssB^am 


MMlBli 


■i   N 


1 


ill 


ifiir    I 


02 


SXOW-SIIOKS    AND    SLKDGKS 


stlH",  luid  wci'c  |ir()\i(]cil  wiili  soles  of  scal-skiii,  turnod 
\i\)  i)\('r  toes  ;iii(l  lici'ls,  wli'-re  tlicy  arc  i^atlicrc*!  in 
lillle  ])ucki'rs  that  the  ii:i!i\i'  woiiicii  chew  (ti-  ^lia})',' 
with  iheh'  teeth.  'I'he  ii|)jMr  end  of  one  of  these 
l^oots  is  lied  ahiMii,  tiie  weai"ei"'s  knee,  whih-  a  .second 
set  of  thongs  at  tlie  ankle  iiohls  it  in  phice  at  that 
point. 

JJesides  thesv'  thini2;s,  iNid  ))i;rc]ia>ed  a  number  of 
Kskinio  w<»lf-t  i'ai)s,  \]\v.  ('iMic!  in^cnuiry  and  extreme 
siin])lieit\'  of  wiiicli  e\e(M'(U'(l  aii\t Iiin<4"  of  the  l>>i!nl  he 
lind  c\crs('cn.  'i'hcy  were  ne'rcly  liits  of  stilT  wh:dc- 
boiic  ahoiil  one  fool  hfn'j,",  with  shai'|icn('d  points,  f<»h!- 
ed  into  the  smaUest,  ])o,s>i!)le  compass,  ;ind  c<)idin(M!  iii 
that  position  hy  a  hisliine-  of  sinew.  For  use  this 
liaianh'ssdookins;-  ailair  is  thi'ust  into  a  piece;  of  me;>!, 
which  is  fi'()/,(,'n  and  thi'own  down  on  the  siiow.  Mr. 
AVolf  swaHows  meat,  trap  and  all,  with  such  relish 
that  lie  at,  onc(>  seareln  s  for  an(jther  hit  just  like  it. 
In  tlie  meantime  the  tra])  has  Ijeicun  its  <leadly  work 
in  his  stomach.  Its  sinew  lashinn"  softi'us,  weakens, 
ami  linally  breaks  un(b'i'  the  steady  strain  of  the  com- 
pressed whalebone.  Thus  I'eleased  the  bone  sprine-s 
into  its  original  s!ia])(>,  thrusts  its  sharp  points  into  the 
wolf's  vitals,  ami  often  kills  him  instantly.  If  not  at 
om-e,  death  ensues  in  a  ycvy  short  time,  ami  wdien  the 
thril'fy  f^^kimo  cuts  uj*  his  wolf  j)e  L!;ciierally  recovers 
Ids  trap  and  pi'epares  it  1o  he  set  aLfain, 

Tiu'  sh'ili^^e  -  parly  from  Aiivik  had  started  from 
there  before  da\iii;hl  oi'  that  nioniim;"  with  a  view  1e 
returning?  the  same  iiii^ht.  So  as  soon  as  the  jnis>ioii- 
ary  had  \isitei|  every  house  in  ^lakag'amooi  and  I'hii 
liad  concludetl  his  tradinu',  the  (b>i(s,  which  C'hitsali 
liad  been  obliL>-ed  to  guard  all  this  time  fr(un  an  oxrv- 
\vb<'hning  onslaught  by  their  I'Nkimo  cousins,  wei> 
)iea(b'(|  honu'ward,  ami  the  return  jourimy  was  begun. 
C'liJIsah   dro\i'    the    leadine-    sledi>c,   which    was    laden 


1*1 

m 


•i     b 


1 

I 


d 


A    SAD    ROMANCK      )F    THK    WI  I.DKKNKSS 


Gli 


UiviU'(l 
rr<l   in 

'    ihcsc 

at  that 

\\)VY    oi" 

'Xtreinc 
kiinl  Ik' 

(s,  r«»i<i- 

iHiumI  ill 
use    this 
)l"   nw.it, 
NV.      Mr. 
•li    rrlish 
t,  lik.'  it. 
11 V   work 
i\vt,':iktiis, 
l\\v  c-oiii- 
s])rinp;s 
nto  tilt' 
f  not  at 
]\vn  ikr 
recovers 

•d  iVoiil 
vii'W  111 
juissioii- 

in.l  rinl 
Chitsali 
:ui  DVi'r- 
ns,  were 
s  li("_:;uii. 
n^    l:i(l<'ii 


I 


willi  tlh'  sc\rr,ii  Imndrcd  poiiiiiis  of  drii'd  llsji  tli:i(  tlic 
Mii^>ioii;irv  liiul  I'ccci \  i'll  as  a  ".\c(Miii^-rft\  ilic  niissioii- 
ai'\' drove  ilic  otlic]-,  wliicii  bore  IMiiTs  [Mircliasis,  and 
ihr  ^'aldv"('  Lad  tnid'j,cd  Ix'sidc-  hini. 

"Arc  von  ol'tcii  called  on  to  man-y  two  pcojdc  ol' 
dilTcrciil,  i-accs  ?"  askcil  the  lattei-,  \\h(»  \vas  thinkin!;- 
o\er  the  events  of  their  recent,  visit. 

"  Xo,  not.  often;  thoiiuh  it  is  not  nncomnion  for 
white  men,  ulio  lia\<'  I)eeoine  iiei'inanetit  settlers  in  the 
coimtry,  to  niari'v  nai  i\  (■  witnieii,  and  1  oiwe  married  .i 
('liiiiese  man  to  an  Mskiino  e'irl.  AI\'  si  I'an^cst  e.\)M  ti- 
eiiec  ill  that  line,  thoiiuh,  was  e-aine(l  some  years  a;j,(>, 
ulieii  I  |ii---t  eanie  to  this  count  I'v.  Wishiiej;  to  famil- 
;a'-i/e  myself  with  the  entire  \alley,  1  took  a  tri|>  on 
tile  conijKiiiy's  steamei"  to  the  head  ot"  )ia\i'4at  ion.  We 
s'ojijied  to  trade  at  e\(-rv  Imlian  camji,  and  at.  one  of 
iin'se,  neai"  Foil  ^'ukoll,a  couiiK'  canu'  on  hoai'd  to  ei't 
aiaia'ie(k  The  m;iii  was  a.  tall,  L;'(M)d  -  lookin'j;  fellow, 
liiii  a  i'ulhhlooded  Cree  Iinlian,  I'rom  the  di-^tanl  intt'- 
lior.  lii.,  ci'mjiaiiion  was  also  in  Indian  co-tnme,  hut 
the  inonn'm  I  h)oked  at  liei'  l':\{'i>  I  saw,  to  my  ama/e- 
iiieiit,tliat  she  was  a  white  u'irl.  She  was  (|uile  \oune', 
hat  li.nl  the  saddest,  fact^  1  think  I  ever  saw.  I  I'lunon- 
^traled  w  ith  her  a'j,'ainst  the  step  she  pi'oposed  to  take, 
hui  ill  a  ))'.'rfectly  calm  \'oice,  ami  speakin<jj  most  e.\- 
eeiieiit  l^iiulish,  tliouijfh  with  a  Scotch  accent,  she  as- 
sured nir  that  she  was  well  aware  of  what  sin  was 
ahoiit  lo  dd,  and  that  it  was  her  tirm  resolxc  to  riiarry 
ihe  Indian  who  stoitd  heside  lier.  l>oth  he  and  she 
L;a\e  the  name  ol  .McLi'od,  and  under  that  name  I  mar- 
iii  '1  them. 

"  .\l'ter  the  cerenionv  \\;is  o\-er  she  tohl  me  her  story. 
It  seciiis  thai,  in  spite  of  her  fair  skin,  she  N\as  a  half- 
iiri'cd  dauu'hler  (d"  t  he  Scotch  I'actor  of  a  liud-iui  l>ay 
lrailiiie'-p()>t  and  his  Indhiii  \\\\\\  \\  hen  she  was 
tiaiMten  \-ears  ohl  her  fatiier  sent   hei-  lo  Scotland   to 


mmmmm^mmmmm 


I 


I 

^1 


fi 


i^    '"' 


!■     1 


64 


sxow-siioEs  AM)  sLi;i)(,r;s 


])('  fditcalcd.  SIic  iiia<I>'  tin'  ]n\\[f  iri|i  liy  cniioc  and 
sK'(1<j;('  from  tlic  dislaiit  [lost,  wlici'c  she  was  honi  to 
\'ork  I'^act oi'v,  on  Ilmlsoii  Hay,  in  safely,  an(l  tliorc 
look  ])assai;x'  in  the  ('(jnipany's  aminal  >]\\\>  for  Londdn. 
l-'roni  there  she  was  sent  to  Edinl)urgh,  wdiere  for  [\\r 
years  she  lived  witli  relatives  and  attended  school. 
Then  she  received  a  note  (jf  recall  from  her  father. 
and  was  ohlis^ed  to  retrace  the  wearisome  jotiniev  over 
thousands  of  miles  of  sea  anil  wildei'ness  1o  hei"  hom(> 
in  the  far  Northwest.  It  was  tcM'rihle  for  her  to  ]ea\e 
the  dear  friends  and  jileasant  assot-ialions  oi"  so  manv 
yi'ai's,  and  liai"dest,  of  all  to  sejiarate  from  tln'  V"un<j 
Scotchman  wiio  had  won  her  heart  and  her])romise  ti^ 
marry  him  as  soon  as  he  should  eome  to  claim  her  in 
lier  own  home.  \Vhile  she  r(;t,urne<l  to  Iluilson  l)a\' 
in  a  comjiany's  shiji,  he  wa.s  foi'c'cd  to  travcd  hy  way  df 
New  '^^M■k  and  through  the  States. 

"AVhoi  tlu'  i^'irl  rea(du'd  her  honie  she  imnuMli.iteiv 
told  her  jKirents  of  lier  eni^'auemeiit,  and  thai  her  lover 
was  even  then  on  his  way  to  mai'ry  her.  To  her  (\i>- 
mav  her  father  ilew  into  a  violent  ra^e,  informed  her 
that  he  had  already  selected  a  hushand  for  hei-  in  the 
])ei'son  of  one  (jf  tlte  comj)any's  emj)loyes  stationed  at 
l^'oi't  l.iard,  and  declared  that  she  must  marry  him  at 
once.  In  vain  ditl  the  uirl  jdead  with  Inm  and  en- 
deavor to  change  his  ciaud  delei'inination,  and  in  A-aiii 
did  the  mother  take  her  jiarl.  'idle  tyramncal  father 
oidv  i,nH'w  the  moi-e  (disiinal e.  and  w  hen,  afti'r  monllis 
of"  weary  waiidei'lnu's,  the  Scotidi  lox'ei-  a]i))eared  at  tlu' 
fort,  he  was  di-i\i'n  from  ir  with  hiltt  r  words.  He  was 
not  allowed  to  see,  or  e\'en  communiciie  with,  llic 
U'ii'l,  hut  was  oi'dered  to  lea\('  tlie  counti'y  at  once. 

"There  was  nothinn' to  do  but  ohey.  The  factor  w;i> 
.also  tlu'  oidy  magistrate  of  a  Aast  I'eiiion,  and  ruled  it 
with  a  rod  (d'  iron.  "Noiu"  could  dwell  within  his  jui'i>- 
diction   witliuut   his    knowleiljj,'e,  none  obtain  emj)loy- 


A    SAD    IMMANCK    oK     illK    W I  I.I  >i;i;.\i:ss 


05 


loc  aii<l 
Doni  to 
.1  tlicrc 

.(iiuloll. 

for  live 

scliool. 

I'atlui'. 
U'V  o\rv 
vY  lioino 
to  leave 

so  many 

•(iiuise  t " 
in  lier  in 
IsiHi  liay 
)V  way  ot 

lUMliaU'ly 
lier  lovev 
)  her  d\>- 
nned  li<r 
ler  in  til" 
tioiied  at 
•V  hiiii  at 
|i    and    ell- 
,1  in  vain 
•;il  i'atlii  r 
■r  niontlis 
red  at  till' 
IleNva^ 

with,  til'' 

niK'e. 

';ictoi'  ^\as 

(1  iMlled   it 

his  juris- 

1   eniploy- 


nioiil  Avithoiit-  Ills  eonsenl,.  The  t'ort^  held  all  the  nec- 
essaries ot"  lifi',  and  none  coiiM  he  purchased  else- 
where, ^V  hand  ol'  Indians  was  oi-dei"ed  to  convey  the 
unfortunate  youth  se^•eral  hundi'eds  ol  ir.iles  away  and 
tlier(!  leave  him.  This  they  did,  l>ut,  \vhal  at'tei'wards 
heeame  ol"  him  I  do  not  know. 

"  J)V  some  means  the  mrl  h^arnod  of  her  lover's  visit 
to  the  fort,  ol"  his  harsh  rece])tion,  arid  ol"  his  ciaiel 
])anishment.  The  knowl(MlL>-e,  bi'oke  lier  heart.  She 
heeame  dejecte(l  and  misei'ahle,  and  spent  her  davs 
ill  weepine".  At  this  her  f.aher  heeame  so  furious  that 
he  sent  for  the  man  to  whoni  lie  ha<l  promised  her  to 
(oiiie  and  marry  her  at  once.  He  furthermore  u]»- 
hi aided  his  daughter  in  the  presence  of  all  the  eiii- 
]iloyes  of  the  fort,  and  said  such  cru(d  things  ahout 
the  man  she  hn'e<l  that,  deelarinijj  she  could  hear  it  no 
Iniie'er.  she  ran  out,  mounted  her  ])ony,  and  IK  <1  to  her 
niotlier's  tribe.  Tliere  slut  j)i-omise(l  to  marry  a  youn<;- 
fmlian  who  hail  lonoj  admired  her,  and  at  once  set  out 
with  his  f;imil\-  for  the  Yukon,  \vliero  the\'  hoiied  t(» 
lliid  a  ])riest.  iVs  it  happened,  I  was  tlie  iirst  whom 
tiie\-  encountered,  and  tlu-  result  I  liave  already  told." 

''What  became  of  them  after  that':'"  asked  Phil, 
wlio  ^vas  deej)ly  interested  in  this  sad  ronnuice  of  the 
wildei'iiess. 

''1  do  not  kiiow.  Tliey  dared  not  return  to  the  ter- 
ritorv  governed  b\'  her  father,  and  the  last  I  heard  of 

»       I  ft  ' 

tlieni  they  were  livinu;  by  themselves  somewhere  «»n 
tlu'  upper  Yukon,  where  the  man  Avas  makinti;  u  j)i-e- 
earious  livelihood  by  tra])])ino-.  T  tried  to  induce  tlniii 
t"  <onie  and  make  their  hon\e  at  the  mission,  but  jioor 
I'.lleii  McLeod  answere«l  that  she  should  never  a^ain 
<lucll  among  ]ieople  of  her  father's  race." 

"l*nor  rrirl,"  siohed  I'liil,  who  hiul  a  verv  tendei" 
heart  \\)y  the  troubles  of  otiiers.  "  I  wonder  if  \\c 
•dionid  have  any  chance  of  meetinn"  them  if  we  tdok 


!:| 


W 


BSSBSaSBSI. 


6G 


sN()\v-sii()i;s  AM)  si.i;d(,ks 


■i  ]'■ 


I  .mill 


(■; 


i 

p 


(Mir  li'i]»  lip  llic  i-iviT?  IJy-tlio-wa}',  sii',  don't  you 
tliiTik  Scr<j,('  ami  I  nii^'hl  1m'  Inisteil  to  make  tliat  trip 
lliis  wiiiltT  ':''' 

"I  should  not  caiH"  to  advis(>  y(»ii  to  (lo  it,"  rcjilic*! 
tlic  missionary,  "  knowiiiu;  its  dangci's  as  I  do.  ^\iid 
ciTlainly  you  could  not  uo  v/itliout  Captain  llamcr's 
consent,  I'oi"  you  would  rcciuii'c  a  moi'c  expensive  oullit, 
than  any  one  save  he  could  i'lirnisli." 

"I  suppose  so,"  admitled  I'hil,  nierully,  '"  Imt  I 
can't  help  ihiid^imx  somethiuu,-  will  turn  iij»  to  maki'  it 
seem  ])est   lo  let^  us  go." 

Tlu'V  \vei"e  hy  tliis  time  neai'iuii,'  An\ik,and  i1ioiil;Ii 
tlu'  sun  had  loiu;-  since  set.  the  river  vas  tlooded  wiiji 
nn)onliL>;ht.  .-Vll  at  once  a  dark  iiuui'e  dai'te(l  out  tVoiii 
the  sliorc!  and  came  rumiiuL;"  towai'ds  t  hem.  As  it  di'ew 
lU'ai',  Knrilla's  ^vel^■kno^vn  voice  shouted,  ])realhlessly : 

"Cap'n  Phil's  I'adder  gone  up  rivei' I  Vaas,  lie 
ladder  1" 

'•  My  fatlier  !"  cried  Phil.  "  It  can't  he.  You  nni>l 
be  cra/,\-,  I'or  mv  lather  is  tlioiisands  of  miles  rroiii 
here." 

"Trui-,  all  same.      Vou  ladder,  yaas  !" 


'1 


ri  you 
i;it   trip 


n'p 


An. I 


llani 


^•t;  <• 


el   s 
lit  111 


l.ut     I 

kc  it. 


UV.i 


1  thonuh 
(UmI  with 
out  t'roni 
.s  it  *li"*'\v 
;iliiU'Ssly; 

V:va 


s.    lu' 


You  must 
liles  from 


";^" 


I'Al-N    I'llll.'s    KAliDKH    (.(INK    11'    llIVll;'        VAAS,   UK    KA  PI'IK  '" 


n 


!  : 


li 


I 


I 


I    'i 


.1 


CIIAPTEIl    XI 


TllH    nOYS    CAKUY    TMKII:    POINT 


Never  in  his  life  had  Piiil  llydcr  been  more  per- 
plexed than  lie  was  at  the  astonishing'  statement  just 
made  by  Ivurilla.  It  was  inci'cdildc  ihat  his  father 
should  be  in  that  country,  ^^'hy  should  lie  be?  There 
had  ])een  barely  time  for  him  to  receive  the  letter 
sent  out  1)V  Nikrik,  and  he  could  not  possiblv  have 
reached  the  Yukon  Valley  since  then. 

"How  do  vou  know  it  is  my  father?"  lie  demanded 
of  the  native.  "Has  he  been  here  V  Did  you  see 
him':'     AVhy  didn't  he  wait  until  I  came  back?" 

"Him  no  come.  Him  lco  up  river.  Mi;  no  s"e  ))im. 
Vou  fadder,  yaas." 

"What  can  the  man  mean?"  asked  Phil,  in  despair 
of  obtainini^  any  intelligible  exi>lanation  and  turning 
to  the  missionary  for  aid. 

J'rom  that  time  until  they  reached  ihe  station,  which 
tliey  found  in  ;i  state  of  exciteinent  over  tlie  news,  the 
missionary  (piestioned  Kui'illa  in  his  own  tongui',  and 
bvtlie  time  thev  were  inside  the  house  he  had  U'leaned 
all  the  information  the  Indian  j)ossessed. 

"He  says,"  began  the  missionary,  turning  to  his 
eager  audience,  "that  he  obtained  his  news  from  a  Nu- 
lato  Indian,  who  left  St.  ^[ieliaels  oidy  th/ee  days  ago, 
and  came  by  way  of  the  Divide  and  the  Anvik  River. 
lie  is  a  friend  of  Kurilla,  and  spent  a  couple  of  liours 
with  him  this  morning,  after  whicrh  he  (;ontinued  his 
journey.     Accortling  to  him,  as  nmlerstood  by  Ivurilla, 


.1' 


f 


-.-^ 


P9^ 


I'^l]    % 


OH 


.SNOW-SHOKS    AM>    SLF.;i)(,i;s 


I 


ii'!? 


H  ist'liooiicr  coiitainiiiLC  I'liiPs  fatlK.T  and  aiiotliur  wliiU! 
mail  reached  tlie  Jledoiibt  soon  aftci'  ilu;  ('liuno  left. 
The  other  white  man  was  sick,  so  that  none  of  iIk; 
natives  saw  him;  hut  I'hil's  father  s|M'ni  his  wlioU' 
lime  makinLC  ini[uiries  of  every  one  about  tlie  boys, 
and  where  they  had  i^one,  what  sort  of  u  man  they  liad 
txonci  with,  and  what  chaiice  th(;re  was  of  overtakini; 
them." 

"  I  am  afraid  lie  did  not  receive  a  veiy  flattei'lnii^ 
descri))tion  ot'tlu'  man  they  liad  gone  witli,"  remarked 
Gerald  I  lamer,  \\ho  was  by  this  time  out  of  the  hos- 
pital and  able  to  j«»in  the  pleasant  family  circle. 

"About  that  same  time,""  (continued  the  missionary, 
"the  revemu!-cuttei"  Itejd'  vaww  (b)wn  from  the  north- 
ward, bi'inging  the  crew  of  a  wi'ecked  whaler,  so  that 
for  a  while  there  were  nniny  white  men  and  much  con- 
fusion at  St.  ^[ichaels.  Then  both  the  Bi'<ir  and  the 
scliooner  sailed  away,  taking  most  of  the  white  men 
with  tliem,  but  Phil's  father  stayed  behind.  l>y-and- 
by  news  came  from  Xulato  that  the  Chhuo  had  ])assed 
that  ])oint  without  stopping,  on  her  way  up  the  river." 

"AVhieh  is  news  indeed,"  muttered  (JeraM  TTamer, 
"  seeino:  that  Xulato  is  a  good  ojie  luuidred  and  fifty 
miles  ])eyond  here." 

"Isn't  it?"  laughed  the  missionary.  "And,  to  cap 
the  climax,  the  sanu^  runner  that  brought,  that  informa- 
tion annf)unce(l  that  you  wouhl  undoubtedly  Ix;  frozen 
iii  before  you  had  gone  mui-h  farther,  whereupon 
Phil's  father  began  making  ])re))arations  to  follow 
and  overtake  you  Ijy  d(\g-sledges.  IFe  started  the  day 
before!  our  informant  left  the  Redoubt,  and  was  ac- 
companied by  two  other  white  men,  though  whether 
one  of  them  was  he  who  also  came  on  the  schooner, 
Kurilla  did  not  find  out.  So  there  you  liave  the  whole 
story  as  straight  as  it  can  be  obtained  ;  but,  consider- 
inir  the  chaimels  throuirh  which  it  lias  come,  tluM-e  is 


''\ 


THE    I!(»VS    lAlJRV     TIIKIK    I'ol  N  1' 


flO 


.   left. 
I"     tlu! 

ivl  »<)!(' 
boys, 
y  liiul 
aking 

to  ring 
larkod 

I'   1>(>S- 

otiary, 
novtli- 
\o  that 
•h  con- 
11(1  the 
e  men 
jy-un<l- 
]iassvMl 
river." 
lamer, 
lid  lifty 


to  eap 

iroriiia- 

fro/.en 

reiipoii 

follow 

he  (lay 

^-as   ac- 

•hether           ? 

looiicr, 

■  wholf 

insider-            | 
here  is           f 

'4 

siurli  an  opportunity  for  (errors  that  I  should  not  he  at 
all  sur})rised  it'  a  nuniber  had  erept  into  it."' 

"Nor  I,"  admitted  riiil, 'Mhougli  I  eaiTt  douht  that 
iiiv  father  lias  arrived  in  this  part  of  tlic  country,  im- 
possibh;  as  it  may  seem,  for  surely  no  one  else  could 
have  any  ohjcct  in  announcing  himself  as  my  father, 
oi-  going  to  such  trouble  in  hunting  nic  up.  Nor  can 
1  douht  that,  having  coneeived  some  absurd  notion 
that  I  am  likely  to  get  into  trouble,  the  deal' old  j)o]> 
has  set  forth  on  a  wild-goosu  chase  after  me.  I  fancy 
I  can  sec  him  at  this  moment  politely  t  rying  to  breathe, 
or  to  swallow  raw  seal,  in  some  native  hut,  or  careering 
over  the  river  behind  a  team  of  runaway  dogs,  or 
wrestling  with  the  inti'icaeies  of  an  Kskinio  whip,  or 
having  some  of  the  (^»tlier  delightful  ex})eriences  that 
he  is  certain  to  encounter.  Tiiero  is  one  thing  that 
won't  bother  liim,  thougli,  and  that  is  snow-shoeing, 
for  he  learned  that  loiiLf  ago  in  Canada." 

"Ifow  fond  he  must  be  of  you  I"  said  tlu;  mission- 
ary's wife. 

"Yes,  indeed,  he  is!"  cried  Phil.  "And  I  (d'  him, 
for  we  are  everything  in  the  world  to  eacdi  other." 

"And  how  anxious  he  must  be!"  mnrmur(Ml  the 
teacher. 

"I  suppose  so;  though  I  don't  see  why  he  should 
he,  for  he  taught  mo  to  take  care  of  myself  long  ago. 
I  am  beni;innino:  to  cjet  ]>rettv  anxious  about  him, 
though,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  it  is  clearly  my  duty 
to  organize  a  relief  ex])edition  at  once  and  go  in  search 
of  him.     What  do  you  say  to  that.  Serge?" 

'"  I  say  I  should  feel  exactly  as  you  do  if  he  were 
my  mother,"  answered  the  lad  from  Sitka,  who  was 
inimediateh'' afterwards  covered  with  confusion  by  the 
outburst  of  nuu'riment  that  greeted  his  remark. 

"I  mean — "  he  stammered. 

"Of  course,"  interrupted    IMiil,  teasingly,  "we  un- 


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70 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLEDGES 


derstiind.  You  moan  that  if  my  father  were  your 
mother,  in  which  case  you  and  I  would  probably  bo 
brother  and  sister,  you  would  feel  in  duty  bound  to  go 
in  search  of  him  or  her,  .is  the  case  might  be." 

"Oh,  you  get  out  !"  laughed  Serge. 

"  The  very  thing  I  am  proposing  to  do.  And,  really. 
Captain  Ilamer,  now  that  my  father  has  appeared  on 
the  scene,  and  gone  uj)  the  river,  I  don't  see  how  you 
can  any  longer  have  an  excuse  for  refusing  to  let 
Serge  and  me  follow  after  him.  If  wo  don't  overtake 
liim  this  side  of  Forty  JMile,  wo  shall  certainly  find 
Iiim  thoic.  Then  wo  can  all  go  out  together  by  way  of 
Chilkat,  and  I  know  that  out  of  gratitude  for  your 
kindness  to  me,  if  for  no  other  reasor),  my  father  will 
gladly  undertake  t<  place  your  order  for  goods  in  San 
Fran(!isco." 

"Your  argument  is  certainly  a  strong  one,"  ad- 
mitted Gerald  Jiamer,  hesitatiugly,  "and  it  really 
begins  to  lOok  as  though  you  had  gained  your  jioint 
after  all." 

"And  we  ought  to  start  as  quickly  as  Ave  can,"  urged 
Phil,  eagerly,  "in  order  to  relievo  my  father's  anxiety 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  also  to  prevent  him  from  get- 
ting lost,  which,  I  am  sure,  any  one  is  likely  to  do  on 
the  Yukon.  AVhen  it  comes  to  ])rocuring  dogs  for  the 
trip,  I  would  advise  you  to  buy  Kurilla's  team,  if  pos- 
sible, for  I  give  you  my  word  they  are  far  and  away 
the  very  best  lot  of  liaulers  I  have  ever  driven.  As 
for  their  feed,  I  was  invited  to  a  certain  weddincT  to- 
day,  though  I  regret  that  I  was  forced  to  decline  the 
invitation,  that  resulted  in  a  sledgo-load  of  ])rime  dog- 
iish — no,  I  don't  moan  that  either,  for  they  wore  salmon 
— ^wl   ch,  I  believe,  can  be  bought  cheap." 

Thus  rattling  on  and  unhesitatingly  offering  advice 
on  all  subjects  connected  with  dog-slodging  and  snow- 
shoeing,  even  going  so  far  as  to  express  the  o[)inion 


THE    BOYS   CARRY   THEIR   POINT 


71 


that  for  their  work  Norwegian  skis  vould  bo  fur  bet- 
ter tlian  tlie  ordinary  snow-shoe  of  the  country,  Phil 
succeeded  within  a  few  minutes  in  establishing  the 
fact  that  his  long-cherished  expedition  was  really  to 
be  undertaken. 

As  he  remarked  in  a  low  but  exultant  tone  to  Serge 
after  they  had  gone  to  bed  that  night:  "Hurrah  for 
snow-shoes  and  sledges,  old  man !  We  have  got  them 
at  last,  as  I  told  you  wo  would  from  the  very  begin- 
ning." 


And  Sei 


ah 


islecp, 


d  li 


5elf 


Imost  asleep,  roused 
sufHciently  to  reply  :  "  What  did  you  say  ?     Oh  yes,  I 
know.     Hurrah !     Good-night." 

Whereupon  the  Yankee  lad  disgustedly  hurled  a 
])illow  at  him  with  such  force  as  to  effectually  banish 
sleep  and  provoke  retaliation  that  resulted  in  Phil's 
bed  coming  down  with  a  crash.  Upon  this  its  occu- 
pant remarked  that  he  always  did  despise  civilized 
beds  anyhow,  and  that  hendock  boughs  in  front  of  a 
rousing  cami)-firo  were  good  enough  for  him. 

In  the  meantime  some  of  the  preliminaries  of  the 
tremendous  journey,  to  which  the  boys  looked  forward 
with  such  deliffht  and  their  elders  with  so  many  mis- 
givings,  had  been  arranged  that  very  evening.  The 
best  obtainable  map  of  the  Yukon  was  studied,  and 
marked  with  such  private  information  as  was  possessed 
by  the  missionary. 

"If  yo.!  could  only  overtake  them  before  reaching 
the  Tanana  River,"  he  said,  reflectively,  "you  might 
cut  off  the  great  arctic  bend  of  the  Yukon,  and  save 
several  hundred  miles  by  going  np  the  former  river, 
crossing  a  divide  to  a  branch  of  Forty  jMilc  Creek,  and 
following  it  down  to  the  cam])  at  its  mouth.  I  suppose, 
though,  they  will  have  ])assed  the  Tanana  long  Ix'fore 
you  get  there,  atul  so  you  will  be  obliged  to  follow  the 
great  beiul  for  fear  of  nussing  them.'' 


T 


1 

s 

i     ' 

'i.     i 

. 

N  n 

1}  ' 

i  ,ll« 

1^  .)  1^^ 

1  ' 

y  ■ 

1 

i      \\ 

1 
1 

!i     '^ 

J 

II    fi      .'*■ 

12 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


"  I  suppose  so,"  assented  riiil,  "  but  I  tlon't  care. 
The  longer  tlie  trij)  Jie  more  fun  we'll  have." 

"You    will    find    it    lonijc    enounfh    before   vou    cjet 

Oct  ^  CD 

through,"  remarked  Gerald  llanier,  significantly. 

"I  hope  so,"  returned  the  irrepressible  lad.  "I  like 
to  have  enouijh  of  a  <j:ood  thine:." 

An  hour  or  more  was  devoted  to  making  out  a  list 
of  the  articles  necessary  for  the  trip.  While  from 
tlien  until  the  very  time  of  departure  Phil  kept  think- 
ing of  and  adding  new  items  to  this  list.  Serge  was 
kept  equally  busy  in  trying  to  reduce  its  length. 

Before  Kurilla  was  dismissed  that  evening  both  he 
and  his  son  Chitsah  were  engaged  to  accompany  the 
boys  at  least  as  far  as  Forty  Mile,  a  distance  of  ojie 
thousand  miles,  though  beyond  that  point  they  would 
not  promise  to  go. 

From  Kurilla  also  Gerald  Ilamer  agreed  to  pur- 
chase, at  his  own  price,  his  fine  team  of  dogs,  of 
which  bushy-tailed  Musky  was  leader,  big  Amook  and 
Mint  were  steer -dogs,  and  Luvtuk  and  Shag  com- 
pleted the  nimble-footed  quintet.  This  was  hereafter 
to  be  known  as  Phil's  team,  for,  having  already  had 
some  experience  in  driving  them,  it  was  believed  that 
he  could  manage  them  better  than  doixs  unaccustomed 
to  his  astonishing  pronunciation  of  the  native  words 
of  command.  Kurilla  was  to  bring  them  to  him  the 
very  next  morning  to  be  fed,  for  in  dog-sledging  it  is 
a  rule  that  every  driver  shall  feed  his  own  team,  in 
order  to  win  their  regard  and  persuade  them  that  he 
is  not  an  unmitigated  evil. 

The  season  was  now  late  November,  and  though  the 
morrow  was  Thanksgiving  day,  or  believed  to  be  such 
in  absence  of  any  proclamation  to  that  eifect,  it  was  to 
be  devoted  to  preparations,  and  the  start  was  to  be 
made  at  sunrise  of  the  following  morning.  Therefore 
Phil's  last  words  of  tlie  night  were: 


't'i'i     ! 


THE   BOYS   CARRY   THEIR   POINT 


7n 


"I  am  dead  tired,  old  man,  but  I  want  you  to  wake 
me  early  all  the  same,  for  I  shall  have  only  one  day 
in  which  to  feed  my  dogs  and  teach  them  to  know 


me. 


» 


Wn  ^^^^^^mSm 


B9 


» 


4 


H  ! 


1: 


il 


i'^; 


i   .' 


t 

;; 

n 

1 

i 

^ 

■1        ' 

1 

CHAPTER  XII 


rHIL    FEEDS    HIS    DOGS 


It  flid  not  seem  to  Phil  that  lie  had  any  more  tliaii 
closea  iiis  eyes  before  ho  was  awakened  by  such  a  ba- 
bel of  yelps  and  barkings  as  notified  liini  that  further 
slee])  was  out  of  the  question,  and  also  that  his  dogs 
were  waiting  to  be  fed.  Hearty  imprecations  sliow- 
ered  on  the  lieads  of  the;  vocifei'ous  team  from  the  di- 
rection of  Mr.  Sims's  room,  and  threats  to  treat  them 
to  a  dose  of  duck -shot,  so  hastened  Phil's  movements 
that  in  a  few  seconds  lie  had  slip])ed  on  his  seal-skin 
boots  and  fur  ))arka,  and  was  outside  in  the  stinging 
cold.  There  in  the  moonlight  stood  Kurilla,  with  a 
broad  grin  on  his  good-humored  face,  holding  in  leash 
PhiTs  team.  Every  member  of  it,  but  big  Aniook 
loudest  of  all,  was  viiiforouslv  demanding  his  three 
meals  of  the  day  before  and  the  one  already  due  on 
the  })resent  moi'ning,  or  four  in  all. 

On  the  Yukon  it  is  customary  to  feed  sledge-dogs 
once  in  every  twenty-four  liours,  and  that  at  night, 
after  the  dav's  work  is  ended.  In  order  that  Muskv 
and  Luvtuk  ajul  the  others  might  be  so  unusually 
liungry  as  to  fully  appreciate  the  first  meal  from 
the  hands  of  tlieir  new  master,  Kurilla  liad  withheld 
their  meal  of  the  i)revious  evening,  so  that  now  they 
were  fairly  ravenous.  Near  at  hand  stood  Chitsah, 
restraininsx  with  the  utmost  dilHcultv  another  team  of 
dogs  that  were  de«;tined  to  be  driven  by  Serge.  iVs 
they  had  been  regularly  fed  the  evening  before,  thcv 
could  not  liave  been  so  hungry  as  Pliil's  team,  though 


I      I 


rillL    FEED.^    HIS    DOGS 


75 


re  tliriTi 
'M  !l  l):i- 
further 
lis  (logs 
s  sbow- 
.  the  (li- 
nt tlieiu 
vemeuts 
■;eal-skin 

stinging 

,  with  a 

in  leash 

Amook 

IS   three 

due  OH 


■'s 


from  their  liowlings  one  uould   think   tliey   liad   not 
tasted  I'ood  for  a  week. 

Appreeiating  the  seriousness  of  the   situation,  and 
shouting  to  Serge  to  come  out  and  attend  to  tlie  wants 


•  tliis  own  team,  Phil  ran  to  tlie  storehouse,  i'r( 


)m  >\ 


iiici) 


lie  took  two  dried  salmon.  Thev  were  so  Jar'^-i'  that  ho 
proposi'd  to  cut  each  into  several  pieces  of  such  si/e  as 
seemed  to  liim  fitted  to  a  dog's  throat.  iVs  he  ap- 
proached his  team  lie  called  to  Serge  to  fetch  him  n 
knife  ;  hut  almost  as  he  uttered  the  words  he  was  i-iv- 
(Ml  to  understand  thac  it  was  not  needed. 

AVilh  a  savage  spring  .Vmook  reached  his  side,  seized 
oii(>  of  the  big  fish  in  his  jiowerful  jaws,  and  with  ;i 
coujtle  of  convulsive  guli>ings  swallowed  it  whole. 
Having  acconi])!ished  this  feat  he  wagged  his  tail 
cheerfully,  an<l  looked  up  into  his  young  master's  face, 
as  much  as  to  say,  '*  That  samj)le  was  so  good  that  I 
think  ril  take  some  fisli,  if  you  ]>]ease." 

"  Well,  if  you  aren't  an  ostrich  !"  Phil  started  to  sav  : 
hilt  even  as  he  opened  liis  moiilh  to  speak  he  was  over- 
thrown and  instantly  buried  beneath  an  avalanche  of 
(logs.  Incited  by  Amook's  brilliant  success,  ]\fusk\', 
^lint.  Shag,  and  Luvtuk  follovved  his  example,  while 
the  dogs  held  by  Chitsah  broke  loose  at.  the  same  mo- 
ment, and  all  projected  themselves  with  the  energy  of 
living  catapults  towards  the  single  fish  tliat  I'hil  still 
held! 

liotli  Kurilla  and  Chitsah  instantly  flung  themselves 
on  top  of  the  confused  mass  of  howling  animals,  and 
for  the  space  of  a  minute  the  scene  enacted  in  full  view 
of  the  aroused  inmates  of  the  station  was  e(|ual  to  any 
tirsl-class  footl)all  scrimmage.  "Women  screamed,  wliilo 
nicii  shouted  and  ran  tov.'ards  the  ])lace  of  battle. 

Ill  another  minute  the  fierce  animals  had  been  toin 
apart,  flung  this  way  and  that,  and  were  sneaking  olf 
in  so  many  ditTerent  directions  with  lowered  tails.    Tho 


\'f 


i:J       \  '"-^ 


76 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND    SLEIKIKS 


m  fi 


|r 


k 


:i  ji| 


I'^i 


■i 


two  Indians  wore  brcathlcsslv  but  calmlv  readjiistin!]: 
tin  ir  (lisord  rod  Lcarnients,  tlio  salmon  had  disaj)i)oai'od, 
and  l*liil,  sitiiiiLj^  on  the  liard- packed  snow,  was  ton- 
dorly  Tooling  ol"  diiroront  })arts  ol'  his  body. 

"Aro  you  niucrh  hurt,  old  nianV"  ci-iod  Sorgo,  anx- 
iously, as  ho  roaohod  his  friond's  sido. 

"Sorgo,"  ropiiod  l*hil,  soloninly,  "did  you  ovor 
liappon  to  soo  a  good  little  book  called  the  Franklin 
rriinorV" 

"  I  don't  think  I  ever  did.     Wliy  ?" 

"  Because  it  contains  a  picture  that  you  would  do 
"well  to  study.  The  picture  is  that  of  a  small  boy,  with  a 
verv  anxious  t'xnrossion,  hano-inij:  bv  his  hands  I'roni  tlu' 
outer  end  of  a  branch  that  projects  over  a  tropical  river. 
Immediately  beneath  him  swim  a  dozen  open-mouthed 
crocodiles  regarding  him  M'ith  evident  expectancy, 
lienoatli  tlie  ])icture  is  a  legend  to  the  oiTect  that  John- 
ny is  about  to  feed  his  pets.  Now  let's  turn  in  again 
and  iiidsh  out  our  nap." 

But  there  was  too  much  to  be  done  that  day  to  ad- 
mit  of  furtlier  sleeping,  and  both  lads  quickly  found 
themselves  full  of  business.  To  begin  with,  stores  for 
the  expedition  wore  to  be  selected  and  carefully  packed. 
Of  those  the  largest  single  item  was  lish,  to  be  used  as 
dog  food,  and  with  this  one  sledge  was  wholly  laden. 
Then  came  flour,  tea,  sugar,  salt,  bacon,  hard  bread, 
evaporated  fruit,  a  package  of  fine  pommican — which 
is  made  of  dried  and  pounded  moose  moat  mixed  with 
berries  and  boiling  fat  in  a  rawhide  bag,  where  it  bo- 
comes  jKM'foctly  solid — oatmeal,  a  can  of  baking-pow- 
der, molasses,  a  case  of  canned  goods  for  sjiocial  occa- 
sions, a  quantity  of  reindeer-back  fat,  to  be  used  in 
place  of  butter  or  lard,  and  a  few  pounds  of  tobacco 
for  trading  with  Indians. 

For  cooking  utensils  there  was  first  and  most  impor- 
tant of  all  the  chynik,  or  copper  tea-kettle,  and  an  ex- 


iKljnstinor 

ij)l)e;ire(l, 

was  ten- 

Tgo,  anx- 

^'o\\    ever 
Franklin 


vould  do 
>y,  witli  a 
Irom  till' 
cal  rivor. 
mouthcHl 
)ectancy. 
lat  Jolm- 


in  again 


IV  to  ad- 
\y  fonnd 
tores  for 
'■  packed. 
3  used  as 
[y  laden, 
d  bread, 
— wliicli 
ced  with 
re  it  be- 
incj-pow- 
sial  occa- 
iised  in 
tobacco 

t  impor- 
d  an  ex- 


Is* 


r  tra  one  in  ci^m  ^r        •  ^ 

l.-'-;i.le.s  these  tiK.ra  «-a,  ^  „•  ls h  1      '       '"'""■'''  •""'  '■"'I-'-- 
At  I  ,0  1,0,1,1  of  fl,         ''"  "™  '"  Ins  l.rlt. 

"',"'■  "-i'l-^  tl„.sc.  K,  ,  „.  ",  '^7  ^"""""mio„  f„, 
'-'-:"'  "M  rtint-lock  „.,;'•'  "'""''  -■"•O-  l.i.s  w,.l|- 
"'"■  l"i-  oacli  ,slc.,i,,,,    ,„■„        •  ,   ^'"'"  "•■""t'  'lii-eo  avcs 

;'''-■  <'f"<'.'.ii.j;;,':7t':;,:\r  "■'■■■'" '-•■- 

'"'•'■  "^.-M  US  „,,„t,,l.  '      ''  ■'  ''""^  "'  «>tt„„  o|„u, 

^'lost  inij)()r|,ant  of  -ill  f 
'■'•Sion  of  a,-c.tic  col.I  wits  tl,u'o'i!t(T,"' f 'r  •''""•""•^'  '"  "'•■" 

h;>SO,-.s  of  I,„lia„  „,„„^,„    "  •  '    "  y  ''■■•y  l.y  tl,e  ,„„,,,,„ 

"'  ■■'  '-"""'i.  ci«s...,i„i„„  f ,.;;''  T  ""■'  '"'"•'^'■■^'«' 

^'■iv,ic  ai,d  wolf  .ski,.  .„         ■"'"".  "-'"n.,.'.!  Hid,  „.„,. 

f"'  '--o,.  oft  ;.;';::;;:,■''''«;''••-''■'-*  f,;  .^. 

»''-:k  .-..Ki    .seal,  piety   of     ,:,':?'••  '"""'  "'■  ■"oo.so- 

,""■  '■"".'"•■  <"■ "--  ' , ';;:; ',™^  "■•■•'  --=1.0.1  to 

''•^"''  "f  «-l,iol,  |,a,l  a  t,.i ,    .    i,     '■  """■'■  l«'"-.  ""•  n,.|,t 

--;;;';"ny...  Hit,,  u^;::r;,r  "•'•'' =--''->^. 

"-'«""a:fe'i:^:;--^;".y;;a.,,.a,loWtak. 
"I"  ">a™ot-ski„,,  f,„'sidco  "t  ■"''.'''^'"'^^■'. '"'""?  io 
"■'"'  ^f'lt  oanvas  as  a' I'       '  ™*'"'"'S  "'o  other  ..^,le 

'--  ^--..  co„.it.,te,i  :zxi:^-'-^-i: 


I'll 


HI 


4'' 


^  ■ 


ij  ^u 


i 


1'^ 

1 ', 

,»:| 

:  ■) 

»i 

i 

IH 


SNOW-SHOES    AM)   SLKDOKR 


ini^Iit  sicoj)  ont-of-doors  witli  comfort  in  tlio  coldest  of 
MCiillicr. 

'riu'sc  tliiiiin^s,  topjctlior  witli  snow-shoes  and  native 
snow-L^oLTtrK's,  made  of  wood  pierced  with  a  h)niij  slit 
ajid  hhickened  on  the  inside,  c(nnjdeted  the  outfit  of 
our  yount:^  traveUers.  'l^hey  Avere  to  use  the  in<;alil<, 
or  regular  Vtdvon  sledge,  which  is  much  liujliter  than 
the  I'^skiino,  or  coast  sledufe,  hut  heavier  and  stronger 
than  tile  Hudson  IJay  toboggan  commoidy  used  in  the 
interior. 

Tiio  getting  togetlier  of  tlx'sc  tilings  occuitied  all 
liands  for  the  greater  ]»art  of  the  day,  though  after 
satisfying  himself  as  to  his  outiit  of  fur  garments 
Phil  left  the  rest  to  Serge  and  (ierard  I  lamer,  for  lu;  had 
another  very  inijKU'tant  duty  to  perform.  This  was  ar- 
ranging the  exhibition  drill  of  Ins  native  soldier  boys, 
who  had  looked  forward  to  it  with  such  eagerness 
that  1)0  could  not  bear  to  disappoint  them. 

Fortunately  the  day  was  line  and  not  very  cold,  for 
the  school-room  was  so  utterl}'  inadecpiate  to  the  ac- 
commodation of  both  ]U'rformers  and  s])cctators  that 
the  drill  was  necessarily  held  outside. 

Noon  was  the  hour  a])pointed  for  this  most  impor- 
tant event,  and  by  that  hour  the  s|)ace  reserved  for  spec- 
tators was  occupied  by  every  inhabitant  of  the  native 
village.  'I'heir  curiosity  was  raised  to  the  highesL 
j^'tch  of  e\'|)ectation,  for  the  boys  had  kept  their  secret 
so  well  that  no  one  knew  anything  concerning  the  nat- 
ure of  the  exhibition. 

For  some  minutes  excitement  Avas  kept  at  fever 
heat  bvstran<'('  sounds  issuinsj;  from  behind  the  closed 
school  -  house  doors,  where  the  company  was  forming. 
Then  the  door  was  Hung  open,  and  to  the  measured 
l)eating  of  a  (b-um  that  grufl'  Mr.  Sims  had  made  fer 
Little  Sidorka,  who  was  Dig  Sidorka's  brother,  and  at 
that  moment  the  proudest  boy  in  Anvik,  the  dusky 


est  of 


native 
lo-  slit 

tilt  of 
io;alik, 
•  r  tliiui 

i-oii'J!;^''" 
,  in  tlu' 

)ic(l  :iU 
;h  aftc'i- 
armonts 
r  he  had 
^  was  ar- 
Lt'V  boys, 
aj^c'vnc'ss 

cohl,  for 
p  the  ac- 
tors that 

it  impor- 
for  spec- 
llie  native 

hi<!;hesL 
leir  secret 

the  uat- 

at  fever 
the  closetl 

fonnin;-- 
lmeasure<l 

made  fer 
ier,  and  al 
[he  dusky 


:  -i 


-!'|l|,i 


'H   .""'mm 


4 


1       ! 


rillL    FKKDS    HIS    I)(i(iS 


(•((nipaiiy  niarchiMl  forth  in  single  lilc,  headed  by  \V\is; 
Sidorka,  who  still  won*  the  hadt^e  of  honor  that  mad*; 
him  the  envied  of  ail  his  fallows.  Phil  eatne  last, 
and  at  iiis  eonirnand  of  ''Company,  hnU  !  JM-^hiyWrfj  / 
lliilht  (/rc'.s'.s'Z  ''Ttutioii  T"*  th(!  loiiLT  line;  stood  straiufht 
and  motioidess  faciiiLC  tlieir  awe-striekeii  relatives. 

Tlien  eanic!  in  rapid  snccession  tin;  sharp,  ci-isp  or- 
ders now  so  familiar  to  nearlv  everv  school-hoy  in  the 
Tnited  States,  hut  never  before  heard  by  the  public 
of  Anvik:  "Present  ovihk!  Carry  oi'iin^!  Jlii^dit  shoul- 
der antifi!''''  and  the  rest,  until  every  movement  of  th<' 
manual  iiad  been  executed  with  a  prom])tness  and 
j»reoision  that  drew  forth  a  storm  (jf  a|)plause  fi-o.  i  the 
delinhted  spectators.  JJut  when  Phil  handed  hi?- 
wooden  sword  to  Ser^^eant  Si(hjrka,  and  the  com[)any 
was  put  through  tin;  same  drill  without  a  inistalcc  by 
one  oi'  tiiLir  own  number,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  on- 
lookers knew  no  bounds. 

Then  the  eomi)any  was  ])Ut  througli  the  few  simple 
inarching  manieuvi'es  that  it  had  bi'eii  able  to  [)ractise 
in  the  limited  area  of  the  sehool-room.  Finally,  when, 
at  the  command  "Charge  bayonets!  I)oiiI)le  (pTudc 
7iiarchP^  it  advanced  on  the  run  with  levelled  guns 
directly  towards  its  admiring  friends,  they  scurried 
away  in  every  direction  with  ap})rehensive  screams  as 
though  their  brothers  had  become  sure  enough  soldiers, 
armed  with  real  guns,  and  bent  upon  their  destru(!tion. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  exercises  Phil  ])ron)oted 
Sergeant  Sidorka  to  a  captaincy,  formally  turned  over 
the  command  of  the  company  to  him,  and  hung  about 
his  neck  a  medal  beaten  out  of  a  silver  dollar  and  en- 
graved with  the  single  word  "Captain."  To  this  day 
if  there  is  a  prouder  young  fellow  in  all  Alaska  than 
Uig  Sidorka,  or  .a  more  exacting  drill-master,  it  would 
be  hard-  to  find  him. 

Serge  bade  his  reading-class  farewell  that  evening, 


m 


1.=^ 


FfS^S! 


!| 


i    I  i'i 


1 

; 

1  i' 
li  i 

i^ 

f 

1 

j 

M  ■• 

^■ 

80 


SNOW-SHOKS    AND    SLKIKJES 


and  comincncled  them  to  the  kindneas  of  Mr.  Sims, 
the  engineer,  wlio  to  tlie  surprise  of  every  one  liad 
vohmteered  to  contitiue  tlie  work  so  successfully  begun 
by  the  young  Ilusso-Anu'rican. 

That  eveniug,  too,  (Jerald  llauier  gave  Phil  a  list  of 
go()<ls  that  the  C/u'uio  would  take  to  the  Forty  Mile 
Mining  Camp  in  the  sjii'ing,  aiul  the  prices  at  which  they 
would  be  sold,  lie  also  gave  him  money  enough  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  a  trip  to  San  Francisco,  and  a 
long  letter  of  instructions  to  the  agent  of  the  new  trad- 
ing company  in  that  city.  This  Phil  was  to  su])ple- 
ment  by  a  verl)al  statement  of  the  condition  of  affairs 
in  the  Yukon  diggiugs,  and  the  class  of  iroods  most  in 

•r^  tT"  Cry      '  <n 

demand. 

Thus  was  (>vervthiug  made  ready  for  the  morrow, 
on  which  IMiil  ;>.nd  Serge  were  to  set  forth  on  a  mid- 
winter search  through  the  vast  Alaskan  wilderness  for 
the  former's  clearly  loved  father,  and  begin  the  tre- 
mendous  journey  which  they  hoped  would  carry  them 
to  the  very  head-waters  of  the  Yukon,  and  linally  land 
them  in  <rreen  Sitka  town. 


Sims, 
ic  liad 
begun 

list  of 
Y  Milo 
3h  tlioy 

llgll    to 

,  aiul  a 
w  imd- 
sui>i)U!- 
atl'iiii's 
most  in 

norrow, 
a  miil- 
ncss  lor 
the  tre- 
ry  them 
Illy  land 


CHAPTEU  XIII 

MUSIC    OF    THE    SLEDGK-RELLS 

The  cold  winter  morning  that  succeeded  that  mom- 
orahle  day  at  the  Anvik  Mission  witnessed  an  ani- 
luatA'd  scene  in  tlie  open  space  between  its  stout  log 
buildings.  Fur-chid  iigures  hurried  in  all  dircclions, 
brinrjing  last  tliini>;s  and  finisliing  the  ladiiiLj  of  tlu^ 
three  sledges  that  were  to  constitute  the  up-river  bri- 
gade. To  each  of  these  were  attached  seven  dogs,  it 
liaving  been  decided  at  the  last  moment  to  add  two 
extra  haulers  to  each  team,  as  both  dogs  and  fish  for 
tlieir  feed  were  mucli  cheaiier  at  Ativik  than  they  would 
he  beyond  that  point.  Then,  too,  with  such  strong 
teams  a  high  degree  of  speed  could  be  maintained,  for 
while  two  of  the  sledges  carried  six  Inmdred  pounds 
each,  the  third  was  laden  with  but  half  that  weiglit,  so 
that  if  either  of  the  boys  became  exhausted  he  could 
ride,  and  so  avoid  the  necessity  of  a  halt. 

Each  dog's  harness  w^as  composed  of  three  bands  of 
seal-skin,  two  of  which  passed  over  his  back  and  werc^ 
tiioo-li'd  or  buttoned  under  the  belly,  wiiile  the  third, 
which  was  extended  into  traces,  crossed  his  chest. 
The  loader  was  attaclicd  to  the  end  of  a  long  pulling 
thong  of  walrus  hide,  while  the  traces  of  the  other 
•logs,  who  ran  in  pairs,  were  knotted  and  made  fast  to 
the  same  line  at  proper  intervals.  The  two  steer-dogs 
were  hitched  directly  to  the  hauliiig-bar  in  front  of 
the  sledge. 

The  load  of  each  sledge,  enveloped  in  stout  canvas, 


m^ 


82 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


11  . 


'I 


If: 


0 


I      I  >  I 


was  immovably  bound  to  it  by  a  sim])lo  but  ingenious 
not-work  of  raw-liide  lashing,  so  that  the  Avhole  might 
roll  over  and  over  without  beinc:  loosened  or  disar- 
ranged. 

At  ten  o'elock,  or  just  as  the  laggard  sun  of  those 
short  days  was  rising,  the  last  hearty  handshakes  were 
exchanged,  the  fervent  "God  bless  yous "  and  final 
farewells  were  uttered,  and  the  start  was  made. 

Kurilla,  who  was  to  act  as  runner  and  break  a  trail 
through  the  snow,  went  first.  Then  came  Phil's  team, 
with  the  string  of  tiny  bells  attached  to  Musky 's  har- 
ness jingling  merrily  in  the  frosty  air  ;  after  him  fol- 
lowed Serge,  whose  cheery  good-nature  and  ready  help- 
fulness had  won  for  him  a  Avarm  place  in  every  Anvik 
heart  ;  and  the  rear  was  ])rought  up  by  Chitsah. 

On  the  very  brow  of  the  steep  descent  to  the  river 
Phil  turned  for  a  parting  wave  of  his  hand  and  a  last 
glance  at  the  place  that  had  grown  to  seem  so  much 
like  home  in  the  past  six  weeks.  His  less  sentimental 
dogs  sprang  down  the  narrow  track  with  such  sudden- 
ness that  poor  Phil,  who  still  held  to  the  sledge  with 
one  hand,  was  jerked  abruptly  forward,  threw  the 
sledge  from  the  ])ath  in  his  effort  to  save  himself,  and 
plunged  with  it  down  the  bank.  By  thus  taking  a 
header,  Phil,  liis  dogs,  and  his  sledge  reached  the 
bottom  even  in  advance  of  Kurilla,  sadly  demoral- 
ized, but  except  for  a  few  bruises  and  a  terrible  snarl 
of  trace-lines  none  the  worse  for  the  accident. 

AVhon  a  few  minutes  later  Serge  readied  the  spot 
with  his  anxious  and  now  familiar  inquiry,  Phil  cut 
him  "^'ort  by  saying, 

"No,  old  man,  I'm  not  hurt,  though,  of  course, I 
might  have  been.  But  I  was  willing  to  risk  it  for  your 
sake." 

"  For  my  sake  !"  cried  Serge,  in  amazement. 

"  Yes,  to  set  you  an  example  in  promptness  of  raove- 


i  i  i\ 


Mr  SIC    OF    TIIK    SLEDCiE-JiKLLS 


83 


j5 


ions 
isar- 

hose 
were 
final 

trail 
Learn, 
i  har- 
a  fol- 

help- 
^.nvik 

!  river 
a  last 

I  much 

mental 

luUlcn- 
e  with 
w   tlic 
If,  and 
,king  a 
d  the 
moral- 
|c  snarl 

lie  spot 
hil  cut 

|oursc,l 
)!•  your 


move- 


ment. You  know  I  have  always  saltl  we  would  never 
ijc't  to  Sitka  unless  we  took  adx  aiitagi'  of  every  oppor- 
tunity, and  ))ress('d  forward  with  all  possible  speed." 

"Oh,  pshaw!''  laughed  Serge.  "  You  remind  me  of 
a  stor}''  I  lieard  in  New  Ijondoii.  An  old  Quaker  was 
driving  along  a  country  road  with  his  boy  sittinir  in 
the  back  of  tl»e  cart.  Suddeidy  the  horse  shied,  and 
the  boy  was  thrown  out,  whereu])on  the  old  man  re- 
marked, (piietly,  'lie  thaidcful  for  thy  mercies,  son,  for 
if  thee'd   fell   in   a  iiarticellar  way   thee'd  broke   thy 


necK 


5  5) 


Well,  I  didn't,"  replied  Phil,  "though  I'm  sure  I 
fell  in  a  very  particular  wa}' — at  least,  it  was  particu- 


ar 


ly 


unexv) 


lected. 


In  a  few  minutes  Kurilla's  deft  lingers  had  repaired 
all  damages,  and  disentangled  the  apj)arently  lioi)eless 
snarl  of  dogs.  Tiien  the  train  was  once  more  set  in 
nu)tion,  and,  as  it  swe})t  out  on  the  broad  surface  of  the 
frozen  river,  was  lieaded  due  north  for  the  first  stage 
of  its  long  journey.  Fainter  and  fainter  came  the 
nuisic  of  its  sledge-bells  to  those  who  watched  its  de- 
parture. Its  receding  figures  lessened  until  they  were 
but  black  specks  against  tlie  illimitable  expanse  of 
white,  and  finally  vanished  in  the  snow  glint  of  its 
wavering  Itorizon. 

To  Phil  Ryder,  however,  tliere  was  no  vanishing 
about  the  seven  dogs  that  lie  was  attempting  to  drivt^ 
They  \vere  ri<>-ht  before  his  eyes,  where  he  was  oblii^ed 
to  keep  them  pretty  constantly,  too  ;  for  if  he  looked 
away  for  an  instant  they  knew  it,  and  seized  the  o])))or- 
tunity  for  mischief.  There  Avas  not  a  lumj)  of  ice,  a 
hillock  of  snow,  or  a  bit  of  drift  that  one  or  all  of  them 
did  not  wish  to  smell  of  and  investigate.  If  there  was 
ail  obstruction  to  be  passed,  three  of  them  would  try  to 
JXo  on  one  side  of  it  and  four  on  the  other.  At  siixht  of 
a  rabbit  scurrying  across  the  frozen   field,  they  would 


m. 


<f 


<e-n 


m 


^' 


'I  ^ 


84 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


II 


i;ivo  toMijjue  and  sot  fortli  in  hot  pursuit.  Above  all, 
each  of  tiie  live  bc'lonL?in<jj  to  the  oi'ii^inal  team  was 
spoiling  for  a  light  with  one  or  both  of  the  now-coniers, 
to  whom  Phil  had  given  the  names  of  Lofler  and 
lirassy.  If  he  glanced  back  to  shout  to  Serge,  Musky 
would  double  on  his  tracks  and  spring  at  the  throat  of 
the  unoffending  Lofter,  who  would  al»iectlv  roll  on 
liis  back  with  a  howl  of  apprehension  ;  Amook  would 
snap  at  his  heels;  Luvtuk  woidd  wheel  u})on  JJrassy; 
and  by  the  time  Phil's  cya  again  rested  on  his  team 
they  would  be  engaged  in  such  a  battle  as  would  glad- 
den the  heart  of  a  city  gamin.  Then  Jvui'illa  would 
rush  back,  seize  Phil's  whip,  and  crack  it  about  their 
cars  with  such  frightful  re])()rt><  that,  in  their  frantic 
efforts  to  escape,  the  olfending  dogs  would  only  entan- 
gle themselves  still  more  hopelessly.  In  the  meantime, 
the  other  teams,  thus  force<l  to  a  halt,  would  sit  on 
their  haunches,  or  lie  in  comfortable  attitudes,  and  lift 
their  voices  in  sympathetic  howls. 

Finally,  when  this  thing  happened  for  about  the  tenth 
time,  Phil  exclaimed : 

"Look  here,  Kurilla,  you  and  I  must  change  places, 
for  I  can't  stand  this  any  longer.  Besides,  with  the 
present  arrangement,  we  are  spending  more  time  dis- 
entangling dogs  than  we  are  in  travelling.  I  don't 
somehow  seem  to  have  learned  the  A  J]  C  of  sledge 
«1  riving;  but  I  am  getting  along  pretty  well  with  the 
shoes,  and  believe  I  can  walk  ahead  and  tread  out  a 
trail  as  well  as  any  one." 

"All  light,"  answered  the  obliging  fellow.  "You 
walk,  me  come.  M(^  come  I'as',  you  walk  more  fas', 
yaas."  Then,  with  a  broad  grin,  he  whirled  Phil's  re- 
linquished badge  of  authority  about  his  head  in  such 
a  manner  as  ffave  the  do<j!:s  to  umlerstand  that  ihcv 
must  now  attend  strictly  to  business  or  take  the  con- 
sequences. 


li   b 


MUSIC    OK    TlIK    SI,KI)(iE-HELLS 


85 


^  all, 

was 
iiers, 

and 
usky 
)at  of 
.11  on 
,voald 
rassy ; 

team 

crlad- 
would 
:,  their 
frantic 

entan- 
mtime, 

sit  on 
md  lift 


iC 


tenth 


places, 
:ith  the 
lime  dis- 

I  don't 
sledge 

'ith  the 
Id  ont  a 

"  You 
)re  fas', 
|>hil'«  ve- 
in siicli 
I  at  tlu'V 
Ithe  con- 


So  Pliil  assumed  the  h'a«U'rslii|)  of  tlic  expedition,  and 
from  tliat  moment,  though  always  willinn  to  accept  ad- 
vi(H!  from  the  othei's,  he  never  dropj)od  it. 

Wlien,  shortly  after  three  o'clock,  the  sun  completed 
its  sliort  coni'se,  and  ai»"ain  reached  the  southern  liori- 
zon,  he  asked  Kuriila  if  it  were  not  about  time  to  make 
camp;  but  tlie  Indian  answered: 

No  ;  i^o  far  as  can  make  dog  plenty  tired.  S'posin' 
no  git  tired  ;  night  come,  run  to  Anvik.  Bad  dog, 
yaas.  Git  tired,  night  come,  no  run,  sleep;  good  dog, 
vaas 


a 


11 


Oh,  tliat's  the  scheme,  is  it  ?"  laughed  l^iiil.  "  AVell, 
I  guess  I  can  stand  it  as  long  as  the  rest  (tan,  though  1 
must  (ionfess  I  am  about  tired  enousjjh  to  raidv  with 
the  ijood  <loijs  now." 

So  in  spite  of  lame  ankles,  and  blistering  heels,  and 
toes  tlmt  wei'e  very  tendei'  from  having  been  i"ej)eat- 
edly  "  stubbed  "  against  the  snow-shoe  bars,  tlu.'  young 
leader  trudged  sturdily  forward,  with  the  dog-teams 
following  close  behind  him.  At  length,  when  the  dusk 
was  merging  into  darkness,  Kuriila  called  out: 

"  Now  camj).     IMenty  wootl.     Heap  fire,  yaas." 

I  ey  were  passing  a  spruce-and -hemlock-covered 
]ioint,  against  which  a  pile  of  drift  had  lodged,  and, 
gladly  accepting  the  Indian's  suggestion,  l*hil  led  tlit^ 
wav  towards  it.  Twentv  miles  of  the  iotirney  had 
been  accomplished,  which,  considering  the  late  start 
and  that  it  was  the  iirst  day,  was  pronounced  to  be 
very  fjood  work. 

For  the  next  half-hour  e\'ery  one  lal)oi'e(l  as  though 
his  very  life  dep.'nded  upon  what  he  could  accomplish 
during  those  Inst  precious  moments  of  f;iding  twilight. 
I'hil  and  Kuriila  made  their  keen  axes  ring  merrily  in 
an  attack  on  the  pile  of  dry  drift-wood.  Chitsah  felled 
a  spruce-tree,  from  which  he  cut  two  h^gs,  each  six  feet 
lung,  and  armful  after  armful  of  small  branches.    Serge 


i   " 


SC) 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AM)    SI,KI)(,KS 


^1 


d 


hi    M       i 


crcclcMl  a  low  but  stout  scafTold,  on  wliicli  tlie  slc(lo;es 
ere  to  bo  placed  to  kcop  lliciu  out  of  the  way  of  the 


w 


onimvorous   doys,  wlio   in   tlic   meantiine    were    lying 
down  in  their  harness  where  they  had  been  halted. 

At  the  end  of  the  half-hour  a  ijji'eat  back  louj  twelve 
feet  long  and  a  smaHer  fon?  log  had  been  j)laced  in 
j)Osition,  and  enough  dry  wood  collected  to  last  until 
morning.  The  direction  of  the  wind  was  noted,  and 
the  logs  for  the  tii'(;  were  so  laid  that  it  should  blow 
along  their  length,  instead  of  across  them  from  either 
side.  AVhil(>  Sei'ge  s])lit  kindlings  an<l  started  his  tire, 
the  two  Indians  unharnessed    the  iiatienl    doGfs.     The 


d 


tl 


.dl  b 


Harness,  and  especially  tlie  wiiips,  were  liung  well  ne- 
yond  their  reach,  for  they  will  eagerly  chew  at  the 
former  and  invariablv  destrov  the  latter  ii  by  any 
means  they  can  get  at  them.  'I'hen  the  hungi-y  animals 
M'cre  fed.  Serge  leaving  the  fire  to  feed  his  own  teai 


11, 


and  Phil  rejoicing  that  he  had  esca|)ed  this  d;ingerous 


dut' 


Each  doo'  was  <>iven  a  salmon   wei<'hiii<jf  fr 


oni 


one  pound  and  a  half  to  two  ])ounds,  and  each,  as  ho 
received  his  ration,  gul])ed  it  down  exactly  as  Amook 
bad  done  on  a  ])revious  occasion.  They  followed  their 
meal  with  copious  mouth fuls  of  snow  that  served  in- 
stead of  watei-. 

Serge,  who  naturally  slip])ed  into  the  position  of 
cook  for  the  i»arty,  returned  to  the  lire,  which  was  now 
bla/.ing  linely  and  sending  a  stream  of  sparks  (Lancing 
among  tlu'  dai'k  tree-to))s,  Phil  busied  himself  with 
the  bed  that  he  and  Serge  were  to  share,  while  Kurilla 
and  ( 'hit sail  would  make  theirs  on  the  opposit"  side  of 
the  lire,  lie  rolled  one  of  the  green  logs  into  i>osition 
close  beside  the  lire  for  its  foot-board,  and  then  cov- 
ered a  space  some  six  feet  scpiaro  behind  it  with  flat 
spruce  boughs,  over  which  he  sj)read  a  thick  layer  of 
hendock  tips.  Above  all  he  laid  the  two  great  bear- 
skins, and  on  them  threw  the  tw(.  slee]>ing-lngs,  each 


.1    I 


no 


ok 


Iheir 
(1  in- 


u  of 
now 


uu 


(r 


Lur 


ilia 
(le  of 
sitioii 
cov- 
Ih  ilat 
•cr  of 
bcav- 
,  cai'li 


u 


if 


0fm 


V    i 


1  ii 

'i    i         ■ 

1 1  ^i ' ' 

1     : 

^:    ^  1 

1         1 

I-  i 


i  i  ' 

V 1 

I         '        i; 


k 

i 

■ 

1 
t 

i 

1 

MUSIC    OF   THE    SLEDGE-IJELI.S 


87 


of  wliicli  liad  its  owner's  name  done  in  black  paint  on 
its  white  canvas,  and  contained  liis  personal  belongings. 

Everything  needed  for  the  niijjlit  beino*  now  taken 
from  the  sledges,  the  Indians  lifted  them,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  their  loads,  to  tlie  scaffold,  on  which  were 
also  placed  the  snow-slioes.  Theii  they  made  their  own 
bed — a  very  sim})le  affair  as  compared  with  tlie  one  con- 
structed by  Pliil.  With  this  the  work  of  preparing 
cam})  was  finislied,  for  in  that  far  north  land  there  is 
no  pitching  of  tents  by  winti'r  voi/(/(/et()'s.  Those  are 
considered  useless  encumbrances  in  sledge  travel,  where 
every  ]>ound  of  weight  must  be  considered.  They  arc 
not  needed  as  a  protection  against  rain,  for  it  is  certain 
tliat  no  rain  will  fall  with  the  mercury  below  zero,  and 
tliey  would  be  liable  to  catch  fire  from  the  roaring  blaze 
that  is  kept  up  all  night. 

So  in  the  present  case  there  was  nothing  more  to  be 
done  save  wait  as  patiently  as  might  be  for  supper — and 
this  Phil  declared  to  be  the  hardest  job  he  had  tackled 
that  day. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


>« 


-I 


;  -J 


!  ',* 


WINTER  TRAVEL    ]JE NEATH    THE    ARCTIC    AURORA 

With  llio  advent  of  darkness  and  tlio  dvinij  out  of 
the  wind  tliere  came  such  an  increase  of  cokl  that  from 
all  parts  of  the  forest  were  heard  sharp,  crackliuL^ 
sounds  caused  by  the  cruel  pinchings  of  a  bitter  frost. 
Phil  had  thrust  his  thermometer  into  the  snow  at  the 
head  of  liis  bed,  and  was  surprised  to  Hnd,  on  looking 
at  it,  that  it  already  registered  fifteen  degrees  below 
zero.  He  liad  been  so  warmed  with  violent  exercise 
that  it  had  not  seemed  so  very  cold;  but  now  he  shiv- 
ered and  drew  closer  to  the  fire. 

For  his  cooking,  Serge  was  first  obliged  to  inelt  snow 
in  order  to  ol)tain  water;  but  now  the  teakettle  was 
singinc:  merrilv,  bacon  and  dried  venison  were  sizzling 
together  in  the  capacious  fry-pan  ;  and  on  tin;  op))<)site 
side  of  the  fire  the  two  Indians  were  rapturously  snifting 
the  delicious  odors  that  came  from  it.    Tiiev  were  toast- 


in  ir  a  fat  sal 


mon  im 


paled 


on 


a  slen<ler  stick,  and   at 


the  same  time  whetting  their  aj)petite  l)y  frecpient  bites 
from  a  lump  of  pemmican  that  was  handed  from  one 
to  the  other. 

Phil  asked  for  a  bit  of  this  wlien  Serge  took  it  from 
its  bag,  for,  he  said,  "I  have  read  of  pemmican  all  my 
life,  and  from  the  amount  of  praise  bestowed  on  it  by 
(lie  writers,  think  it  must  be  pretty  fine  eating."  So 
he  tried  it,  took  one  mouthful,  and  flung  the  rest  to 
iVIusky,  who  had  drawn  close  to  him,  and  was  watching 
his  experiment  with  undisguised  interest. 


1 


WINTER   TRAVP:L    UKNKATFI    the    AKCTIC    Al  K(»KA    89 


from 

111  my 

it  by 

?st    to 


"Wlunv-w!"  sputtered  Phil,  ejeetini;  the  t.'isti'less 
morsel  from  his  mouth.  "If  that's  |>emmi('.'in,  tiieii 
those  who  like  it  may  keep  it  to  theiusfUes  ;  hut  I 
eertaiuly  don't  want  any  niore  of  it.  I  supjtose, 
though,  it  is  because  my  taste  lias  not  been  cuilivated 
to  apj)reciate  it  any  more  than  it  has  raw  seal's  liver 
and  similar  dainties." 


IJefore  supjx'r  both  Phil  and  Sorgo  afforded  the  Irul- 
ians  considerable  amusement  by  devoting  a  basin  of  tlu' 
j)i'e('ious  water  to  a  thoi'ough  cleansing  of  their  faces 
and  hands.  Kurilhi  and  Ciiitsiih  not  only  considered 
this  a  waste  of  time,  water,  and  soa[t,  but,  as  thr  for- 
mer reinarked,  with  an  expressive  shake  of  his  head: 

"No    good.   .    More    cdean,    more    (juick    git    dirty, 


vaas 


>j 


o 


"Which  sentiment,"  said  Phil,  in  a  low  tone,  t 
Serge,  ''ex]»lains  wliy  Indians  an<l  Eskimos  and  the 
like  generally  sit  on  one  side  of  the  lire  when  white 
men  occuj)y  the  other." 

Throwim;  a  haiulful  of  tea  into  the  chvnik,  liftimx  it 
from  the  lire  tlu.'  moment  it  again  came  to  a  boil,  ami 
then  setting  it  in  a  Avarm  ])lace  to  "draw,"  Serge  next 
removed  the  cooked  meat  from  the  fry-pan  to  a  heated 
plate.  Into  the  liot  grease  that  remained  he  i)laced  a 
double  handful  of  broken  biscuit,  })reviously  soaked 
for  a  few  miimtes  in  the  brass  kettle.  Wiien  this  had 
absorbed  every  droj)  of  grease  and  begun  to  brown,  it 
was  ready  to  be  eaten  with  molasses  as  a  dessert. 

"  One  of  the  xqw  best  dinners  I  ever  ate  in  all  mv 
life,  old  man  !"  declared  Phil,  after  half  an  hour  of  uii- 
interruj)te<l  devotion  to  plate  and  cuj).  "  I  believe  it  is 
fully  equal  to  that  gorgeous  spread  you  had  ready  for 
me  on  Oouimak  after  my  experience  Avith  the  sea-otter 
hunters.  As  for  the  tea  I  Well,  I  never  realized  l)e- 
fore  Avhat  a  good  thing  tea  is,  and  how  much  a  fellow 
can  drink  of  it.      Have  T  had  six  <»r  twenty  of  those 


VM 

m 

m 

''I 


i 


90 


SNOW-SHDES    AND    SLKIMJEH 


:  i:    I 


]n<X  tin  Clips  full?  Xo  matter,  it's  citlior  otio  or  llio 
otluT,  and  livc'iy  one  of  tlieni  lias  i^cjne  rii^lit  to  tlu; 
spot  where  it  will  «lo  tlie  most  good.  ^\'oMl(ln't  my 
Aunt  Jliitli  l)e  liorritled,  thoMi;li,  if  she  could  see  us 
dispose  of  that  amount  of  straij^ht  tea?  She  use<l  to 
consider  one  snuill  cuj),  with  plenty  of  milk  in  it, 
about  tlie  proper  thin.i^  for  a  l)oy's  daily  allowance, 
liut  then  Aunt  Jluth  lU'ver  i-n joyed  the  advantage  of 
drinking  lier  tea  out-of-dooi\s,  with  the  mercury  away 
down  hi'low  freezing." 

"Don't  vou  mean  l)elow  zero?"  sugi;ested  Serge, 
■who  was  relilling  the  chynik  with  hot  water,  and  set- 
ting it  on  to  boil,  that  what  virtue  still  ren)ained  in  tlu; 
tea-leaves  might  be  extracted  for  the  use  of  the  Iiul- 
ians. 

"  Certainly  not  !"  retorted  Phil.  "Why,  it  lias  grown 
at  least  twenty  degrees  warmer  during  the  past  half- 
hour."  So  saying,  he  reached  for  tlie  thermometer  and 
held  it  to  the  light,  M'luu'e,  to  his  disgust,  he  saw  that 
it  registered  three  degrees  lower  than  when  he  last 
looked,  or  eighteen  degrees  below  zei'o. 

"  You  prevaricating  old  tin  villyan  !''  he  cried.  "You 
are  away  off,  and  you  know  it.  Oh,  if  I  could  only  get 
one  cup  of  that  tea  inside  of  you !     It  would  bring  you 


to  yoin*  senses  (puck  enough." 

The  Indians  had  their  own  wooden  bowls,  or  "  kan- 
tags,"  horn  sj)oons,  and  tin  cups,  and  while  they  ate 
their  supper  they  w^ere  again  amused  by  seeing  Serge 
wash  all  Ids  dislies  and  cooking  utensils  with  hot, 
s()ai)v  water.  They  allowed  their  favorite  dogs  to  lick 
their  kantags  clean,  and  it  must  be  adnutted  that  the 
operation  was  (piickly  and  thoroughly  ])erformed. 

After  suj)per  a  line  was  rigged,  and  on  it  were  hung 
mittens,  travelling-boots,  and  the  pads  of  dry  grass  that 
arc  worn  inside  of  them  as  insoles.  Serge  set  a  big 
kettle  of  deer  meat,  pemmican,  and  oatmeal  on  the  fire 


iimw  piim 


l"k:vu- 
.y  ate 

\\    hot, 

Ito  1k'^ 

Ut  the 

bung 

iss  lliiit 

a  Vi;^ 


WINTKK    rUAVEI,    IJKNKATir    TIIK    AK'CTIC    Al  KoK'A     01 

to  siinincr  into  a  stow  for  breakfast  an<l  bint-h  tin-  Ji(>xt 
day.  lie  also  ilxt'd  a  slab  of  snow  where,  as  it  melted, 
it  would  (b'ip  into  tlie  teakettle.  I>y  liis  advice  liiil 
bathed  his  swollen  ankles  with  water  as  hot  as  \\v  could 
bear  it  and  iiibbed  tallow  on  the  blistered  j)laces.  This 
treatment  was  to  be  followe<l  b\'  ;i  dash  of  iee-wati'r 
and  a  brisk  riihbint^  tlie  iirst  thini^'  in  the  morninuf. 

On  the  other  si(U'  of  the  iirc  the  Indians  iiubdu^e*!  in 
tlu'  lonu-l'iix'  smoke  that  afti-r  a  liard  ibiy's  work  af- 
fords the  chief  enio\nient  of  their  monotonous  lives. 
When  it  was  linished  Kurilla  went  out  for  a  linal  looiv 
at  the  sledLjes  and  (h)H"s,  ami  threw  a  cou|)l(>  moi'e  lo^s 
on  the  lire.  Then  In;  rolled  u|)  in  his  I'abbit-skin  robo 
for  as  many  liours  of  sleej)  as  he  could  obtain  before  it 
would  be  necessarv  to  atjain  rei)leni.sh  the  lire  and  in- 
eideiitally  to  take  am>ther  sjnoke. 

Kemovini^  only  their  heavy  outer  ])arkas,  witli  tlieiv 
U'vl  incased  in  soft  arctic  sleej)ini;-so(d<s,  tlieir  lieads 
protected  by  '•lose-tittin<i;  fur  cai)s,  and  sheltei'ed  from 
the  cold  by  tlie  tri|)le  thickness  of  their  fur-lined  sleep- 
ing-bags, Phil  and  Sei-ge  lay  on  tlieir  bear-skins,  feet  to 
the  fire,  an  1  slept  the  untroubled  slee[)  of  tired  and 
healthy  3'outh.  Abcut  them  clustei'ed  the  solemn  trees 
of  that  Northern  forest,  just  beyond  lay  the  river  fro- 
zen into  white  silence,  and  above  all  glowed  the  ex(iui- 
site  mysterious  sky-tinti'ngs  of  an  aurora,  ))ervading  all 
space  with  its  tlashing  brilliancy  (juivering  witli  cease- 
less motion,  though  giving  forth  neither  beat  nor  sound 
and  but  little  light.  With  the  rising  moon  frost  crj's- 
tals  glistt'ued  in  the  air,  and  the  long-drawn  howl  of  a 
wolf  echoed  mournfully  tluough  the  forest.  Every  dog 
in  the  camp  promptly  answered  it,  while  Kurilla  arose 
with  a  shiver  and  mended  the  lire;  but  of  all  this  the 
two  lads  lying  side  by  side  on  their  rude  couch  knew 
nothing. 

It  was  Phil  who  first  awoke  and  looked  out  from  his 


\&  I 


Pi  I' 


^  '*.- 

8  ;i;. 


■^•■•tt     ill 


M 


<  ':4 

i 


'> 


M 

'."hi)  ' 


:.!    ! 


<p« 


92 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    RF.KTKJES 


warm  nest.  Will)  a  sluuldor  at  tlie  bitterness  of  tlio  air 
lie  Avould  have  withdrawn  his  liead  and  smuggled  down 
for  anotlier  nn]),  l)iit  foi-  two  thoughts  tliat  just  then 
tlasheil  into  iiis  mind.  One  was  of  liis  fathei",  whom  lie 
believed  to  be  eneamped  v,  ithin  one  linndred  miles  or 
so  of  him  on  tiinl  very  river,  and  whom  lie  was  bound 
to  overtake.  The  second  tliouijlit  was  tli.'.t  as  leader  of 
the  exi)edition  it  was  liis  ]>lace  to  set  tlie  othei's  an  ex- 
ample. It  would  be  pleasant  to  lie  there  and  sleep  un- 
til sunrise,  but  braver  to  set  fortli  at  once.  In  another 
minute  he  had  struonled  from  the  slee])ing-ba<j;-,  pulled 
on  his  heavy  ])arkM,  and  was  shoutinLC,  cheerily : 

"  Come,  wake  up  I  waVe  up  !  Tumble  out,  all  haiuls  ' 
Don't  von  see  the  sun  a-^ilinin^•  and  hear  thi'  little 
l)irds  a-sino'im;' V" 

"Looks  more  like  the  moon,  and  sounds  like  do^s," 
ejrowled  Serine,  sleej)ily,  as  he  sat  up  and  rubbe(l  his 
eyes.     "  My  !  but  it  is  cold  !" 

"Yes,"  admitted  IMiil.  "  Fifty  ijelow  at  least,  and 
more,  I'll  be  bound." 

It  really  seemed  as  cold  as  that,  and  when  liis  ther- 
mometer sliowed  onh'  twentv  deurees  below  zero  he  de- 
clared  it  to  be  a  fraud,  and  nnworthy  of  further  consid- 
eration. None  but  those  who  have  experienced  similar 
conditions  can  in)ai;ine  the  misery  of  that  camp-brcak- 
iijo-  and  gettini;"  under  way.  The  hunting  from  their 
snowy  laii's  and  harnessing  of  unwilling  dogs,  the 
lashiuijf  of  loads  and  the  tving  of  -knots  with  numbed 
iino-ers,  tlie  loniiinu:  to  huQ;  the  iirc  in  one's  arms,  and 
tlie  Innidred  other  forms  of  torture  incident  to  the  re- 
lentless cold,  all  condjined  to  giv(!  I*hil  a  ruih;  foi'ctaste 
of  what  that  journey  was  to  l)e.  Amid  all  the  wretch- 
edness Serge  was,  as  nsual,  the  comforter,  and  with  Ids 
smoking  stew  and  hot  tea  <liil  much  towards  restoring 
cheerfidness. 

It   wanted   some  hours  to  sunrise  when   the  sledi;i's 


iii  i, 


WINTER   TRAVEL   BENEATH    THE    ARCTIC    ArKt)RA    93 


tlio  air 
d  down 
St  then 
hoin  ho 
iniU'S  or 
s  bound 
oadiTof 
•s  nn  cx- 
>lco))  nn- 
anolluT 
o-,  pulled 

.Uhan.ls' 
the  liMle 

ke  <1  <>!;>, 
ibbod   his 

least,  and 

his  ther- 
.ro  he  de- 
ler  consid- 
ed  similar 
mp-break- 
roiu  tlu'ir 
do<J!;s,  the 
\  inuubed 
arms,  and 
to  the  re- 
>  foretaste 
\\i\  wreteh- 
Id  with  his 
restorin;j; 

lie  sledges 


pulled  out  frotn  eani]>,  regaiiu'd  tlie  river,  and  resumed 
their  nortliwaiv.  ioui-ucv.  Tlu>  skv  was  overcast,  and 
an  ominous  moaniiiL?  soun(le<l  throuuh  the  foi'cst. 
Sooji  a  breeze  bou^an  to  blow  in  an^ry  ijfusts  full  in  the 
faces  of  our  travellers,  and  by  sunrise  it  was  sweepini^ 
t'liriously  down  the  river,  wliirlinLf  the  dry  snow  in 
blinding  (3louds  and  driving  the  lev  particles  with 
stiniiino;  force  into  face  and  eves.  Xoses  and  cheeks 
became  white  and  nund),  tlu^  deadly  cold  was  driven 
tiirough  fur  and  llannel  until  it  ]»enetrated  the  very 
marrow.  Even  the  dogs  ])lodded  on  with  lowered 
lieads  and  pitiful  whimperings,  while  their  masters 
were  obliged  to  turn  their  backs  to  the  gale  evjry  few 
minutes  for  breath  and  a  momentary  respite  from  the 
tierce  strugLrle. 

"  ^Th  poovf/a — yaas  !"  shouted  Kurilla. 

*' Aye, /)Oo>Y/r«/"  answered  Serge,  and  for  the  first 
time   l*hil  conipi'eliended  tlu>  full   signilicatice  of  tho 


th 


d  of  death 


terril)le  word  which  means  the  wind  ot  <ie; 

Bv  noon  lunnan  endurance  coidd  hold  out  no  longer, 
and,  ready  to  dro[)  with  cold,  p;iin,  and  exhaustion, 
Phil  led  his  train  to  camj)  in  a  belt  of  tindjer  so  thick 
that  (U'en  that  fierce  wind  could  not  penetrate  it, 
though  among  tlie  tree  tops  it  shrieked  and  howled 
with  demoniac  fury. 

Thus  from  camp  to  camp,  through  sunshine  and 
darkness,  storm  and  calm,  stinging  cold  ami  whirling 
snows,  the  little  party  toile«l  onward,  making  twenty, 
thirtv,  and  as  hi<>"h  as  fortv  miles  a  day.  'V\\ov  i)assed 
the  Indian  settlement  of  Xulato,  once  a  noteil  Russian 
trading-post,  at  tho  end  of  ten  days'  travel,  and  a  week 
later  ixaiiu.'d  the  mission  station  of  old  I'Ort  Adams, 
four  hundred  miles  from  their  point  of  departure.  At 
several  Indian  villages  they  had  heard  of  the  party  in 
advance  of  them,  whose  camps  they  also  sometimes 
found.     The   trail    was   growing  fresh,   and    at   Fort 


m 


94 


SXOW-SirOKS    AND    SI.KIKiKS 


ii;f  I 


,Ji 


Adiinis  tlicy  expected  to  i;-;iin  definite  inf'onnatio!!  of 
those  whom  they  sou<j;ht,  it'  iiideiMl  tliey  did  not  over- 
take them  at  that  point.  At  any  rate,  tliey  would  tind 
a  missionary  there  from  whom  they  woidd  sur(  ly  re- 
ct'ive  news. 

Tlie  first  wor<l  obtaiiKMl  l)y  Knrilla  from  the  mission 
Indians,  who  swarmed  fortli  to  u^reet  tliem,  was  tliat 
tlie  missionai'v  was  aUscnt,  and  tliat  those  whom  thev 
souglit  liad  passed  only  the  day  hci'ore.  The  second 
was  that  one  of  that  party  had  returned  but  an  hour 
])revii)us,  and  was  even  now  in  the  missiomiry's  housi'. 

"  ^'()U  fadder,  yaas,"  added  Kurilla,  reassurin^'ly, 
willi  a  i^rin  of  delight,  as  he  led  Phil  in  that  dii'eetion. 

With  a  loudly  beatinu^  heart  the  excited  lad  0])ened 
the  dcjor.  There'  sat  a  man — a  whitt'  man — in  an  atti- 
tude of  the  deepest  (leje<-tion.  lie  was  Ioiil;-  and  lank. 
His  fur  ijjarments  ill  became  him.  PhiTs  heart  saidc  ; 
for  in  this  uncouth  figure  there  was  no  trace  of  his 
own  dear  father.  "^I'lien,  as  the  woe-besj^ono  face  was 
slowly  turned  to  nu'et  his,  he  uttered  a  gasping  shout 
of  ama/ed  re(M)gnition. 

"Jalap  Coombs,  by  all  that  is  wonderful!" 


lion  of 
)L  ovcr- 
ikl  thul 
rely  re- 
mission 
us  th;it 
m  tlicy 
second 
m   lioiir 

S   lldUSl'. 

urini;'ly, 
iroction. 
[  o})onc(l 

an  atti- 
lul  lank, 
.rt  sank  ; 
;(3  ol"  liis 
face  was 

\<S  shout 


i~ 


vol       hAll|>KI!,    VAAS 


mifTT^ 


m 


y 

V 

m 


,\  !,:: 


OI 

Na 
til 

111; 

M'e; 


CHAPTER    XV 
rillL    IIEAllS    FROM    HIS    FATHER 

Months  before  Phil  and  Ser<j:e  liad  bidden  farewell 
to  Jalap  Coombs  in  an  ancient  barrabkie  on  Ooniniak 
Island.  They  believed  they  Avere  only  leaving  him  for 
a  short  time,  but  on  their  return  he  had  disappeared, 
nor  from  that  day  to  this  had  they  learned  anything 
concerning  him.  Now,  to  have  him  reappear  in  this 
mysterious  manner  in  an  Indian  village  hundreds  of 
miles  up  the  Yukon  River,  apparently  friendless  and 
alone,  was  so  incredible  that,  after  his  first  exclama- 
tion, Phil  stepped  closer  and  took  another  look  at  the 
weather-beaten  face  to  establish  its  identity  beyond  a 
doubt. 

"  Oh,  it's  me,  son  !  It's  me,  fast  enough  !"  cried  the 
ex-mate  of  the  /Seanieic,  in  a  voice  that  trembled  with 
joyful  emotion,  as  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and  grasped 
Phil's  hand  in  his.  At  the  same  time  a  suspicious  dim- 
ness came  into  his  eyes  that  he  brushed  away  hastily. 

"It's  the  same  old  Jala}),"  he  continued,  "and  only 
one  minute  ago  he  were  about  as  forlorn  and  miserable 
a  sailor-man  as  ever  were  strnuded  a  thousand  miles  from 
salt  water.  Now,  seeing  that  in  sich  a  short  space  of 
time  he's  been  h'isted  from  the  hold  of  grief  to  the 
main-r'yal  mast-head  of  happiness  by  the  sight  of  your 
hlessed  ])hi/,  ye  mustn't  bo  surprised  to  find  his  rig- 
ging at  loose  ends  and  decks  ginerally  cluttered  up. 
Ihit  the  squall's  blown  over,  lad.  You've  brought  fair 
weather,  and  I'll  have  the  old  i)aeket  ship-sh;ipe  and 


.""PW 


00 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLKDCJKS 


'II 


IJristol  fashion  aix.iin  In  a  sliakc.  What  I  sartaiiilv 
ortA'V  (loiK!  was  to  rciiu'inhcr  my  ohl  friend  Kite  Rob- 
crson's  advico  consarninuj  S(|ualls,  Tvc  spoke  to  ye  of 
old  Kite  afore,  liain't  l?" 

"The  name  sounds  familiar,"  replied  Phil.  *'Biit 
how  in  the  name  of — " 

"  Waal,  ef  I  didn't  I'd  orter,  for  Kite  were  one  of  the 
luiest  of  men.      Whv,  me  and  him — " 

"Oh  yes,  now  1  remember,"  assented  Phil.  "  AVhat 
did  he  say  about  srpialls  ':"' 

"  That  in  all  his  experience  he  never  sec  n.  squall  so 
heavy  but  what  fair  weather  "d  eome  after  it  sooner  or 
later.  l>ut  Phil,  my  son,  where  liev  you  dropped  from? 
Where's  your  shipmate  ?  And  where's  that  bloomin' 
shark  of  a  cap'n  what  carried  ve  olY  ri<j:ht  from  under 
your  own  father's  very  eyes'?" 

'^My  father!"  shoute(i  Phil.  "What  do  yor  know 
about  rry  father?  Have  you  ever  seen  him?  AVhere 
is  he?     Has  he  gone  on  up  the  river  ?" 

"Yes,"  cried  Serge,  entering  at  that  moment  and 
greeting  his  old  friend  with  extended  hand  ;  "that  is 
what  we  want  to  know  first  of  all.  AVhere  is  Mr. 
Ryder?  They  told  me  he  was  in  here  with  Piiil,  so  I 
waited  outside  until  certain  that  the  only  other  voice 
was  yours,  and  then  I  ventured  in." 

"  Of  course  ye  did,  and  Tm  ))i-ouder  to  see  you  than 
of  ye  Avere  the  King  of  all  th."  Pooshias  anil  Chin y  to 
boot.  But  consarniuij:  your  father.  Phil,  Have  I  ever 
seed  him,  say  you?  Waal,  occasionally,  considering  as 
me  and  him  cruised  together  for  nigh  two  months  in 
Bering  Sea  sarchinir  for  you  boys.  When  we  final Iv 
come  up  with  ye  in  Norton  Sound  and  see  that  you 
were  steaming  right  ahead,  ])aying  no  attention  to  sig- 
nals, it  mighty  nigh  broke  your  father's  heart.  Il 
stopped  a  bit  short  of  that,  though,  and  only  broke  his 
leg  instead,  at  which  the  swab  as  were  steering  run  the 


rillL    IIEAKS    FROM   HIS    FATHKK 


1>7 


sartiviiily 

3  to  ye  of 

,1.      "But 

one  oi  tlie 

"  What 

t  squall  so 
b  sooner  or 
»p(Ml  frotn? 
X  bloomiu' 
'roiii  under 

,  vor  ^niovv 
^  V     Where 

iioment  and 

[  -^  "  that,  is 

lere    is  ]Mr. 

1  Phil,  so  I 

)t,her  voice 

lo  you  than 
n/  Chiny  to 
lave  I  ever 
lisidering  as 
months  in 
we  tin  ally 
[o  that  you 
Ition  to  siiJC- 
heart.     l^ 
ly  broke  his 
]in2:  run  the 


schooner  aground  on  a  mud  bank.  Then  by  the  time 
I'd  got  Mr.  Ryder  below  and  come  on  deck  again  you 
were  hull  down." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  my  father  actually  broke  one  of 
his  legs  ?"  queried  Phil,  who  could  not  believe  he  had 
heard  aright. 

"  Sartain  I  do,"  was  the  answer.  "  You  see,  we  were 
aboard  an  old  tub  named  Ph Homed,  which  we  had 
chartered  her  in  Oonalaska  for  a  cruise  to  Oonimak 
to  ])ick  you  up.  Thar  we  fell  in  with  a  revenoo-cutter, 
and  she  sent  us  up  to  the  islands." 

"Not  the  Phoca?'' 

"The  very  same,  with  Miss  May  and  Cap'n  Mat- 
thews in  command.  At  the  islands  we  heerd  of  ye 
through  an  Injin  chap  who  had  piloted  your  ship." 

"Nikrik  !"  exclaimed  Serge. 

"Nikrik  were  liis  name,"  assented  Jalap  Coombs. 
"  So  we  give  chase,  laid  a  course  for  St.  Michaels,  and 
got  there  in  time  for  Mr.  Ryder  to  make  you  out 
through  his  glass.  Then  lie  thought  he  liad  ye  for 
sure,  though  I  give  him  one  of  old  Kite  Roberson\s 
warnings.  But  he  didn't  take  no  notice,  and  were 
climbing  the  main  rigging  to  make  a  signal  for  ye  to 
heave  to,  when  a  ratlin'  give  way  and  dropped  him  on 
deck.  The  man  at  the  wheel  jumj)ed  to  save  him,  and 
so  did  T,  but  it  warn't  no  use.  He'd  broke  his  leg, 
and  the  old  Philoniecl  took  a  sheer  into  the  mud." 

"l*oor  father!"  sighed  Phil.  "Now  I  know  why 
I've  been  worrying  about  him.  I  can't  understand, 
though,  how  he  could  undertake  such  a  terrible  jour- 
ney with  a  broken  leg." 

"Why  not?  They  made  him  as  coinfortable  as  ef 
he  were  in  his  own  home.  Besides,  there  warn't  noth- 
ing else  to  bo  did." 

"Comfortable!  with  a  broken  leg,  on  a  doix-sledge 
trip  of  a  thousand  miles  through  an  arctic  wilderness 


t  mi 

I 


li 


^'rr,*^^Si 


08 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLEDGES 


fflS      i 

Hi!    :■ 


1  l! 


■irgi 


111  Miidwintor  !"  cried  Pliil.  "  Scmmiis  to  me  :niy  one 
Avlio  could  find  comfort  under  tliose  conditions  iniirlit 
live  in  luxury  on  ;in  iceberj^  in  the  Pol.'ir  Sea." 

"Which  it  has  been  did,"  replied  the  mate,  gravely. 
"IJut  it  begins  to  look  as  ef  me  and  you  was  sailing 
on  diU'erent  tacks.  Where  is  it  that  you  su|)})ose  your 
father  to  be  at  this  blessed  minute?" 

"Somewhere  on  the  Yukon,  not  more  than  a  day's 
iournev  from  here,  thou<di  when  I  entered  this  room 
just  now  I  fully  expected  to  see  him,"  rej)lied  Phil, 
who  had  so  long  cherished  tlu'  hope  of  a  s])eedy  meet- 
ing with  his  father  that  he  could  not  even  relinquish 
the  idea  of  his  proximity. 

"  Yes,"  added  Serge,  "that  is  what  wo  were  told, 
and  we  have  come  nearly  four  hundred  miles  up  the 
river  in  search  of  him." 

It  was  now  Jalap  Coombs's  turn  to  stare  in  amaze- 
ment. At  length  he  said  -.  "  So  you're  spending  the 
winter  up  here  hunting  him,  be  ye,  while  he  spent  the 
best  part  of  the  summer  down  there  hunting  you? 
Seems  to  me  it's  a  leetle  the  most  mixed-up  hunting  I 
ever  were  consarned  in.  But  it  only  goes  to  prove 
what  my  old  friend  Kite  Roberson  useter  offen  say. 
He  useter  sa}'.  Kite  did,  that  the  best  way  to  find  a 
man  is  to  set  still  in  some  likely  place  till  he  comes 
by  ;  but  I  never  could  hardly  believe  it  till  this  min- 
ute. Now  I  can  see  that  ef  Phil  had  set  in  Victoria 
his  father  would  have  found  him.  Ef  he'd  set  on  the 
t^eaineic  he'd  found  his  father  in  Sitka.  Ef  he'd  set 
on  the  cutter  they'd  met  at  Oonimak.  p]f  he'd  set  at 
the  islands  he'd  seen  his  father  come  that  way  afore 
long,  and  the  same  at  the  Redoubt.  Likewise  ef  Mr. 
Ryder  had  set  at  St.  Michaels  in  ])lace  of  going  to  San 
Francisco  on  the  Jicar,  IMiil  would  find  him  there  when 
he  goes  back  from  here.  Yes,  old  Kite  were  a  Aviser 
man  than  most,  though  you'd  never  believe  it  to  see  him." 


I  ! 


PHIL    HEARS    FROM    lUH    FATHER 


1)0 


one 
ight 


vv\y. 
iling 
your 


day's 

room 

Phil, 

meol- 

iquisli 

!  told, 
ip  tlio 


"  You  say  tliat  my  father  lias  gone  to  San  Francisco. 
Wiiy  (lid  he  do  that?"  queried   the   still   bewildered 


1 


lOV 


"To  dock  for  repairs.  You  see,  tlie  Jicrfr  were  the 
last  ship  of  the  season  to  go  out,  and  so  slie  -were  his 
oidy  chance.  She  had  a  wracked  crew  aboard  as  Were 
willing  to  carry  the  P/iUo)iieel  back  to  Oonalaska,  and 
that  left  me  free  to  continue  the  search  for  you  boys." 


(( 


Well,"  said  Piiil,  '"  of  course  it's  an  awful  dis 


ap- 


pointment to  (ind  that  I'm  not  to  meet  my  father — at 
least,  not  for  some  months  to  come — after  all  the  trouble 
I've  taken  to  find  him.     At  the  same  time  I  am  irlad  to 


afeb 


itof  th 


itrv  for  th 


know  tliat  he  is  sateiy  out  or  tins  country  lor  tne  winter, 
even  if  it  did  take  a  broken  leg  to  })ersuade  him  of  the 
foolishness  of  hunting  for  me.  I  should  think  he  miglit 
have  found  out  long  before  that,  though,  how  well  able 
Serge  and  I  were  to  take  care  of  ourselves.  Poor  dear 
pop !  How  he  must  have  suffered  !  I  only  hope  he 
Avill  stay  quietly  in  San  Francisco  until  I  can  get  to 
him.     Did  he  say  how  long  he  would  wait  there?" 

"Only  till  sich  time  as  he  got  his  leg  spliced  and  is 
able  to  travel.  Then  he's  got  to  come  back  to  Sitka 
and  settle  up  his  business." 

"In  that  case  things  are  working  out  all  right,  after 
all,"  said  Phil,  "  for  Sitka  is  the  very  place  we  are 
bound  for  at  this  very  minute." 

"  But  he  warn't  going  to  stop  there,"  continued  Jal- 
ap Coombs,  "only  till  the  first  sj)i-ing  ship  left  for  St. 
Michaels,  when  he  reckoned  to  take  })assage  on  her  and 
come  up  after  you." 

"  But  how  did  he  expect  to  find  us  at  St.  ]\richaels 
in  the  spring  when  he  knew  we  left  there  in  Septem- 
ber ?" 

"Because  the  very  cruise  I'm  shipped  for  is  to  find 
you,  pilot  you  back  there,  and  moor  alongside  of  ye  till 
he  heaves  in  sight  again.     You  see,  he's  taken  a  notion 


■'-« 

i  '          ; 

i 

h 

:     !- 

\   -a. 

t 

.m 

i 

100 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


;ii      ? 


that  he'd  like  to  come  up  the  river  and  luavc  a  look  at 
the  diggings,  which  lie  don't  feel  that  he  can  till  he  has 
you  once  more  in  tow.  So,  seeing  as  I  were  out  of  a 
berth  for  the  winter,  and  we  heerd  as  you  were  froze 
in  soinewheres  uj)  here  on  the  river,  I  took  the  contract 
to  hunt  ve  and  fetch  ve  back.  I'll  allow,  thouirli,  that 
things  was  looking  pretty  dubious  for  nic  awhile  ago, 
and  ef  you  liadn't  hove  in  sight  as  ye  did  Fd  been  all 
at  sea  without  compass  or  yet  a  chart.  Now,  though, 
it's  all  plain  sailing  again,  and — " 

"  Is  it  ?"  interrupted  Phil.  "  Seems  to  me  this  M'hole 
affair  is  about  as  completely  snarled  as  any  I  ever  had 
anything  to  do  with,  unless  it  was  a  fighting  dog-team. 
To  begin  with —  liut,  I  say,  suj)pose  we  have  suj)j)er 
first  and  discuss  the  situation  afterwards.  I  for  one  am 
too  hungi-y  to  think." 

"  If  you  are  any  more  hungry  than  I  am  you  are  hun- 
gry enough  to  be  dangerous,"  laughed  Serge  ;  while 
Jalap  Coond)s  remarked  that  supper  was  the  very  thing 
he  was  considering  when  Phil  entered  the  room.  "And 
a  mighty  poor  lookout  it  were,"  he  added,  "  for  I  hadn't 
any  grub,  nor  didn't  know  the  best  place  to  steal  any, 
nor  yet  warn't  quite  hungry  enough  to  steal  a  supper 
anyway.  So  I  were  jest  concluding  to  go  without, 
same  as  I  did  for  dinner.  But  ef  you  boys  has  got  any- 
thing to  eat — " 

*' Have  we?"  cried  Phil;  "you  just  wait  and  see. 
Serge,  did  you  know  this  was  Christmas  Day?" 

"Vo,"  laughed  Serge,  "  for  it  isn't." 

"  Well,  it  is  so  near  to  it,  and  this  meeting  is  such  a 
joyous  occasion,  that  I  move  we  trot  out  our  mince- 
pies,  and  i)lum-puddings,  and  roast  turkeys,  and  peni- 
mican,  and  things,  and  have  a  regular  Christmas  blow- 
out. That  is,  always  sup})Osing  that  IVIr.  Coombs  will 
loan  us  the  use  of  his  house.  This  is  your  house,  is  it 
not,  Mr.  Coombs  ?" 


tlHTc  ,,i„'t  „„•  o,u.  CO,  ,0    ,;  ,  ■'''■'""•''"'<■■•<•     "  Leastways 
crson  u.sotcr  say—''  ''  ^^  ^^^'^  ^^'te  Jiol,. 

sledges.  ^^'^'^'^  "'^^'   become  of  the 


J:.i) 


,jl?  ; 


:--  ^''  f- 


r  f' 


-if  f^    f 


w 


nmm 


I' 


M 


CHAPTER  XVI 


TIIK    MATHS    SIOKV 


It  is  (loiil)tfiil  if"  tliorc  was  a  liai)i>i('r  party  in  tlio 
Yukon  Valley,  or  t'vcn  in  all  Alaska,  than  that  wliicli 
unbidden,  thoHL::h  none  the  less  certain  of  their  wel- 
come, took  possession  of  the  mission-liouse  at  old  l\)rt 
Adams  tliat  roariui;  December  niufht.  Certainly  no 
one  could  be  hap|>ier  than  was  Jalap  Coombs  at  this 
meeting  Avith  the  boys  in  whose  fortunes  his  had  be- 
come so  strangely  involved.  At  the  time  of  their  op- 
portune apjK'arance  he  was  in  one  of  the  most  unhappy 
and  perj)lexing  ))re(ru'aments  of  his  whole  checkered 
career  :  but  now  his  troubles  were  blown  awav  like  a 
raorninir  mist,  and  already  wellnigh  forgotten. 

When  the  schooner  PJiilontel^  finally  released  from 
the  baidc  on  which  she  had  grounded,  reached  St.  jNIi- 
chaels,  Mr.  Iiy<]er  was  greatly  distressed  by  the  ac- 
counts given  him  of  the  expedition  on  which  Phil  and 
Serge  liad  embarked.  Knowing  nothing  of  the  condi- 
tions under  which  they  had  been  so  glad  to  accept  the 
friendly  offer  of  a  roundabout  pnssago  ^o  Sitka,  and  re- 
ceiving a  cruelly  false  impression  o*'  Gerald  ITamer's 
character  as  well  as  of  his  objects  in  ascending  the  Yu- 
kon, he  concluded  that  the  boys  had  been  trapped  into 
a  reckless  venture,  which  could  only  lead  them  to  dis- 
aster  and  suffering.  In  fancy  he  saw  tliem  imprisoned 
by  an  arctic  winter  on  a  wretchedly  constructed  and 
poorly  equipped  boat,  as  the  CJilmo  was  described  to 
him,  or  in  some  squalid   Indian  village,  confronted  by 


rilK    MATK  S    SlYiUV 


loa 


frcozini^-,  starvntion,  and  disease,  romoto  from  Imman 
aid  and  without,  the  means  of  i'so;L|>e. 

liittcrly  did  lie  deplore  tlu;  aecidcnl  that  prevented 
him  from  origan iziniL;  a  ndiet'  party  and  going  in  person 
to  their  reseue.  ^Vhen,  on  the  day  after  liis  own  arri- 
val, the  rcvenuc-cntter /icv//' touehed  at  St.  Miehaels  on 
her  way  south  and  her  commander  olTered  him  a  pas- 
sage to  San  Francisco,  'where  he  could  receive  the  sur- 
gical attendance  he  so  greatly  needed,  he  at  first  refused, 
de(daring  that  nothing  woidd  induce  him  to  leave  the 
countrv  without  his  l)ov  Phil. 

'J'hen  it  was  that  Jalaj)  Coombs  offered  to  remain  in 
his  place,  make  an  overland  trip  to  the  Vukon  as  soon 
as  winter  travel  should  be  practicable,  tind  the  boys, 
and  bring  them  back  to  St.  JNIicliaels,  there  to  await 
Mr.  Ryder's  return  in  the  spring. 

"  But  you  know  nothing  of  tlic  country  nor  of  sledge 
travel,"  objected  the  latter.  "  You  will  not  oven  know 
on  what  portion  of  the  river  to  look  for  the  boys. 
And,  besides,  what  shall  we  do  witli  the  Philo)nelj 
which  has  already  cost  me  more  than  I  can  well  af- 
ford V" 

"  It  is  true,  sir,  as  you  say,  that  I  am  ignorant  of  the 

cruising-ground,"  replied  Jalap  Coombs,  "but  I'd  be 
a  poor  sailor-man  of  with  chart  and  compass  I  couldn't 
make  out  to  lay  a  course.  Also,  rv(!  heerd  of  a  party 
as  expects  to  start  from  here  on  a  visit  to  all  the  up- 
river  trading-stations  as  soon  as  the  season  for  sledge 
navigation  opens,  and  I  reckon  there  wouldn't  be  no  dif- 
ficulty about  me  shipping  with  them  as  extry  hand. 

"As  for  driving  dogs,  my  old  friend  Kite  Roberson 
useter  say  tliat  a  man  can  Tarn  any  trade  ef  he  has  to. 
At  the  same  time  I'm  considerable  handy  with  both 
belaying-pins  and  rope-ends,  which,  I  take  it,  would  be 
jest  as  improving  to  the  usefulness  of  dogs  as  to  a  crew 
of  swabs.    When  it  comes  to  setting  the  bearings  of  the 


y  % 


rrym 


mm 


104 


SXOW-SIIOES    AND    SLEDGES 


'  m 


r      ■• 


port  in  Avliich  tlie  lads  aro  laid  by  for  tlio  wintor,  that 
would  soein  to  be  a  case  of  the  |)laiiu'st  kind  of  sailing?. 
They're  bound  to  be  friz  in  afore  lonuf,  even  ef  their 
old  kettle  doesn't  break  down  and  leave  'em  strande(l, 
which  it's  likely  it  will.  Waal,  then,  I  strikes  across 
country  from  here  to  the  river,  and  says  to  the  natyves 
what  lives  on  its  banks  :  'lias  sieh  and  sieh  a  steamer 
gone  uj)  stream  ?'  says  I ;  which  ef  they  answers  .sv",  or 
Old,  or  J<f,  or  whatever  stands  for  yes  in  tlieir  linijfo,  I 
likewise  goes  on  up.  Ef  they  shakes  their  heads, 
wliich  is  'No'  the  world  over,  tlien  I  naturally  goes 
down,  and  keeps  on  down  till  I  meets  her." 

In  spite  of  his  present  pain  and  mental  distress  ]\[r. 
Tlyder  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  readiness  with 
which  the  simj>le-minded  sailor  thus  disposed  of  ditli- 
cjdties  that  to  most  people  would  appeal'  insuj'mount- 
able.  "  IJut  what  shall  we  do  \\ith  the  P/u'foinil /''  he 
asked,  after  a  few  moments'  consith'i'ation. 

"  Send  her  back  to  Oonalaska  in  cha-ge  of  the 
wracked  whaling  ca|)'n  what  has  just  conu'  in  on  \ho. 
]>C(tr.  He'll  taki'  her  and  be  glad  of  the  job,  for  I've 
already  sounded  him." 

The  more  iNIr.  Ryder  thought  ov(^r  tlie  ))lan  thus  ])ro- 
posed  by  the  man  who  had  already  proved  himself  so 
capal)le,  so  loval,  :ind  so  stanch  a  friend  of  th(>  lost 
boys,  tlu>  more  favoral)ly  he  was  inclined  towards  it, 
and  at  hr;:-;^''  li'>  decided  to  accept  the  mate's  j)rolTered 
services.  So  witii  many  i)arting  injunctions,  and  leav- 
ing with  him  a  sum  ol  money  Mitlicient  to  defray  his 
sliare  of  expenses  in  tie  proposed  expedition,  Phil's 
father  sailed  away  on  tlie  lieor  in  search  of  the  medi- 
cal aid  that  should  enable  him  to  return  a  few  months 
later,  and  umU-rtake,  in  company  with  his  boy,  a  long- 
cherished  scheme  of  explonition  amongthe  fabled  gold- 
llelds  of  the  interior. 

Some  six  weeks  later  .lalap  C\)ond)s  also  set   forth 


THE    MATK  S    S'lOUV 


lo; 


Pve 

])ro- 
'If  so 
lost 
(Is  it, 
|Toro»l 
leiiv- 
ly  his 
I'hil's 
liniMli- 
louths 
lonsi;- 
<>;ol(l- 

fortii 


from  St.  3liclmcls  in  company  with  two  wliitc  men, 
both  of  wliom  expressed  an  ardent  admiral  ion  for  Phil 
Ryder,  and  jj^reat  joy  at  the  ])rospe('t  of  assisting  in  his 
resent!  from  the  wiles  of  the  unprinei|)led  trader  who 
had  lured  him  away.  Under  their  direetion  the  eon- 
liding  sailor  invested  the  entire  sum  left  him  by  31r. 
Ryder  in  dogs,  sledges,  and  j»rovisions.  lie  was  amazed 
at  the  exorbitant  ])rices  ehargi'd  him  for  these  things, 
and  was  still  more  so  to  diseover,  when  a  few  days  ouu 
from  the  fort,  that  with  all  his  outlay  he  was  erediti'd 
M'ith  l)Ut  one  team  and  a  single  sledgedoad  of  provi- 
sions, whieh  lie  soon  found  himself  exehanging  for  lish 
with  whieh  to  feed  his  dogs. 

Furthermore,  as  be  had  been  unable  to  nnister  the 
art  of  dog-driving,  his  obliging  friends  had  engagi'd 
for  him  an  Indian,  who  bi-gan  to  demand  his  wages  at 
the  end  of  the  lirst,  week,  refused  to  work  unless  he 
was  paid  in  advance,  and  persisted  in  his  demands  with 
sueh  insolence  that  the  mate  linally  felt  himself  obliged 
to  administer  what  he  called  a  dose  of  belaying-jiins 
and  rope-ends.  The  eifet^t  of  this  was  a  future  obe- 
dience to  orders,  accompanii'd  by  a  sullen  hatred, 
which  Jalap's  white  companions  svi'nied  to  taki*  a  ma- 
licious delight  in  encouraging. 

This  sledge  party  went  north  along  ihe  coast  from 
St.  .Michaels  to  the  mouth  o'"  the  Tnalaklik  River, 
and  followed  up  that  stream  for  several  days.  Then, 
crossing  a  divide,  they  strui-k  the  Y^ikon  at  a  ])oint 
near  Nulato.  Here  they  were  told  that  a  steamer, 
supposed  to  be  tin*  Chfiiio^  had  ])assed  on  her  way 
up  tiic  river  several  days  befori>  the  close  of  na\i- 
gation, 

liy  this  time  the  relations  between  })oor  -lalaj)  and 
his  companions  had  become  so  very  unpleasant  that  he 
had  hoped  l\)r  an  excuse  to  leave  them,  ami  go  down 
the  river  from  Nulato.     As  it  was,  he  now  felt  obliged 


'.  I 


100 


fiXOW-SIIOES    ANT)    SF^KDOES 


I  -m 


M 


to  coiitinuo  in  their  company  until  tho  Chimo  sliould 
bo  overtaken. 

At  old  Fort  iVflanis,  after  (3onferring  with  the  natives, 
his  fellow-travellers  informed  him  that  the  steamer 
was  frozen  in  about  one  day's  march  above  that  })lace, 
and  with  a  lighter  heart  than  he  had  known  since  be- 
ginning tho  weary  journey,  lu;  again  set  forth  with 
them,  iilled  with  eager  anliei})ations.  When  just  at 
dusk  of  that  same  day  they  discovered  a  steamer  snugly 
moored  to  the  bank,  lie  read  her  name  witli  a  sinking 
licart,  for,  instead  of  Chlmo,  it  was  St.  Jlie/uiels,  which 
ho  knew  to  be  the  name  of  a  boat  beloncfing  to  a  Catho- 
lie  mission  on  the  lower  river.  ]\roreover,  she  was 
boarded  up  and  deseited. 

As  Jalap's  companions  noted  his  e\prcssion  of  dis- 
may, they  uttered  shouts  of  mocking  laughter,  and 
asked  what  else  he  had  expected  when  tho  Fort  Adams 
Indians  had  mentioned  that  very  name  so  plainly  that 
a  deaf  man  ought  to  have  understood  it. 

In  camp  that  night  tho  sailor  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  starting  back  down  tho  river  at  daybreak,  at 
which  the  others  only  exchanged  significant  glances, 
but  said  nothintr.  In  th.o  morninu:,  after  tho  sledires 
wore  loaded  and  the  dogs  harnessed,  it  was  discovered 
that  the  driver  of  his  sledge  was  missing.  Telling  him 
that  ho  was  thus  rightly  served  fen*  chastising  the  poor 
man,  the  others  cracked  their  whi|)s  and  started  oil  u)) 
the  river,  leaving  poor  Jalap  standing  on  its  bank  help- 
less and  alone.  A  few  moments  later,  at  the  sound  of 
a  familiar  whistle  from  the'  direction  they  had  taken, 
his  dogs  started  after  their  vanished  com})anions,  carry- 
ing with  them  his  entire  outiit. 

With  feet  so  badly  used  uj)  from  weeks  of  unaccus- 
tomed snow-shoeing  that  every  step  was  torture,  the 
deserted  man  at  once  realized  the  folly  of  ])ursuit,  and 
with  a  heavy  heart  began  to  I'otrace  his  slow  way  t<i 


ouUl 

ives, 
fimoi" 
)l:ico, 
e  bo- 

ist  at 

tiugly 

nking 

which 

Jatho- 

0  was 

of  dls- 
!V,  and 
Adams 
Iv  that 


k  ititen- 
ak,  at 
rlauccs, 
sledges 
jovoved 
ng  hliu 
lie  poor 
ofC  up 
ik  heli.- 
bund  of 
taken, 
,  cari'V- 


Ir 


"''i4 


naocus- 


tht 


iro, 


Init,  ant 


wav 


to 


A    KKU        OMKNTS    LaTIOII    HIS    I)0(iS    STAUTIMt    AITKR   TlII'.Il!    VAMSIIM)    roM 

1' ANIONS 


i 

!";! 

I  k 


iFI 


i|: 

1     1 

;  ! 
'  1 

1         ; 

i  i 

i  ^    '■■ 

THE    :MxVTE  S    STORY 


107 


old  Fort  Adamr..  Reaching  tlie  mission  completely 
exhausted,  and  unable  to  proceed  farther,  he  liad  taken 
possession  of  the  missionary's  house.  Here,  suffering, 
penniless,  friendless,  and  almost  hopeless,  lie  was  trying 
to  form  some  plan  for  the  future,  when  the  door  oj)ened, 
and,  as  he  afterwards  (piaintly  said,  *'Ef  the  good  little 
cherub  what  sets  up  aloft  watching  over  poor  Jack  at 
sea  had  flowed  in  at  that  minute,  I  couldn't  been  better 
pleased  than  I  were  to  sight  the  blessed  })hiz  of  that 
precious  j'oung  rascal,  Phil  Ryder." 

Such  was  the  tale  related  tw  Jalap  Coombs  to  Phil 
and  Serge  after  the  three  had  linishcd  a  dinner  that  in- 
cluded every  luxury  in  the  outfit  of  our  young  travel- 
lers,  and  between  long,  grateful  pulls  at  "old  com- 
fort," his  pipe,  which  they  had  also  provided  with 
tobacco. 

When  the  story  was  ended,  Phil  indignantly  de- 
manded to  know  the  names  of  the  two  white  men  who 
claimed  acquaintance  with  him  and  at  the  same  time 
dared  treat  his  old  friend  so  shamefully. 

"  Simon  Goldollar  were  the  name  of  one." 

"I  might  have  known  it  —  the  sneak!"  broke  in 
Phil. 

"And  the  other  are  called  Strengel," 

"The  very  scoundrel  that  I  set  ashore  from  the 
Chlmo  for  trying  to  blow  her  up  !"  cried  Phil.  "You 
remember.  Serge  ?" 

"  I  should  rather  say  I  did!"  replied  the  young  Rus- 
so- American,  his  honest  face  flushing  with  anger. 

1  Cj  Cj 

"  But  what  are  they  going  uj)  the  river  for,  Mr. 
Coombs  ?" 

"To  spile  Cap'n  Ilamer's  chance  of  doing  any  trad- 
ing at  Forty  Mile,  as  fur  as  I  could  make  out,"  replied 
the  mate. 

"  Oh,  the  villains !"  exclaimed  Phil.  "  And  they  have 
got  two  days'  start  of  us,  too,  while  j'ou  are  almost  un- 


1)  ! 


" 


1 

1 
.\  ■ 

t     V'- 

1 

1 : . 

m 

»'■           V  ' 

1 

li     .  i  ■■ 

108 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND   RLEDGES 


I  s' 


fit  for  tmvul.  Hold  on,  tlioiigli  I  1  liavo  it  !  Wo  can 
do  the  trick  j'ct,  and  give  tliciii  a  lesson  in  niindincr 
tlu'ir  own  business.  Hurrah  i'or  our  side,  after  all  ! 
Serge,  hurrah!  quick,  before  I  fling  sojnething  at  you." 


2  can 

uling 

•  .-ill'! 
">■> 


CHAPTER    XVII 


JALAP    COOMHS'S   FOUIITKEN   PAIR    OP   FEET 


"  Of  course,  ]\[r.  Coombs,  you  c.in't  expect  us  to  go 
back  to  St.  Micliaels  now,"  be<2;an  Pliil,  as  a.  prelimi- 
nary to  unfolding'  bis  scbeme  for  tlic  discomfiture  of 
Simon  Goldollar  and  bis  unprincii)led  companion. 

"  Wby  not?"  demanded  tlie  sailor,  wbo  bad  not  for 
a  moment  expected  ajiytbing  else.  "As  soon  as  I  fouiul 
ye  I  were  to  bring  ye  to  St.  Micbaels,  and  keep  ye 
tbere  till  your  fatber  comes.  Tbcm's  orders,  and  to 
disobey  'em  would  be  mutiny,  nigb  as  I  kin  make  out." 

"Tliat  would  be  all  rigbt  if  you  bad  found  us;  but 
vou  baven't." 

"  Eb?"  queried  Jalap  Coombs.     "  I  bai'.rt  found  ye?" 

"Certainly  not,"  laugbed  Pbil.  "Instead  of  you 
finding  us,  we  bave  found  you.  If  you  bad  struck  us 
at  Auvik,  it  is  possible  tbat  we  migbt  bave  gone  back 
witb  vou,  but  as  we  bave  found  you  some  four  bun- 
dred  miles  from  tbere,  wc  sball  certainly  do  notbing 
of  tbe  kind.  You  see,  to  begin  witb,  we  are  under  tlie 
greatest  of  obligations  to  Captain  Ilamer,  wbo,  by-tbe- 
way,  is  one  of  tlie  finest  men  I  ever  met." 

Here  Pbil  told  of  tbe  terrible  exj)erience  lie  and 
Serge  bad  undergone  in  Bering  Sea,  and  of  tbeir  gal- 
lant rescue  by  Gerald  Ilamer,  all  of  wbicli  tbe  absorbed 
listener  now  beard  for  tbe  first  time. 

"Now,"  continued  tbe  lad,  "we  bave  left  bim  just 
recovering  from  a  dangerous  illness,  anil  unfitted  to 
travel  for  some  montlis.     If  lie  can't  get  word  out  to 


""'■r  »>^M 


110 


SXOW-SiroKS    AM)    sr,Kl)(rKS 


1i^ 


■!!.. 


liic  coast  bct'oru  s])rinuf  lio  will  1)e  a  lioavy  loser.  So 
Surge  and  I  liavo  undertaken  to  carry  and  deliver  the 
message  for  him.  Our  entire  outfit,  down  to  the  very 
clothing  wc  Avear,  Avas  furnislied  b}'  liiin  on  that  con- 
dition. It  is  also  our  duty  to  try  and  defeat  the  plans 
of  liis  enemies,  wlio  are  also  our  enemies,  and  now 
Hoem  to  have  become  yours  as  well.  So  you  see  we 
are  in  honor  bound  to  push  on  witli  all  speed,  lie- 
sides  all  this,  we  certainly  ought  to  be  able  to  reach 
Sitka  long  before  my  father  can  get  away  from  tliere, 
and  so  save  liim  a  long,  tedious,  and  useless  journey." 

"  I'm  not  so  sartain  of  that,"  demurred  Jalap  Coombs. 
"  For  ye'vo  been  trying  to  make  Sitka  long  's  ever  I've 
knowed  yc,  which  is  going  on  a  year  now,  and  Jiain't 
come  anywhere  nigh  to  it  yet.  Still,  as  my  old  friend 
Kite  Roberson  uscter  say,  'Jalap,  my  son,  allers  steer 
by  sarcumstances  ;  for  as  a  gineral  thing  they'll  p'int 
straighter  'n  a  comjiass,'  aiul  I  am  free  to  admit  that 
your  present  sarcumstances  is  p'inting  pretty  direct 
towards  Sitka.  Viwi  how  do  ye  propose  to  sarcum- 
vent  tlie  villvans  what  run  off  with  my  doijs  ?" 

"Now  you  are  talking  straight  business,"  laughed 
Phil.  "As  I  understand  it,  the  main  object  of  those 
fellows  is  to  ca])ture  the  next  season's  trade  of  tlie  Yu- 
kon Valley,  and  especially  of  the  diggings  at  Forty 
.Mile,  bv  taking  advance  orders  at  lower  rates  than  the 
old  company  lias  ever  before  offered.  Even  then  their 
prices  are  certain  to  be  exorbitant,  and  with  Gerald 
Ilamer's  list  I  am  certain  I  can  underbid  them.  But 
that  won't  be  of  any  use  unless  Ave  can  be  first  in  the 
field,  for  after  the  orders  are  given  and  contracts  signed 
those  other  chaps  could  laugh  at  us  and  our  prices.  So 
our  only  hope  is  to  reach  Forty  Mile  ahead  of  them." 

"Which  ye  can't  do  it  Avithout  wings  or  steam,"' 
objected  Jalap  Coombs,  "seeing  as  they  has  got  two 
good  days'  start  on  ye." 


,      So 

r  tlio 

very 

i  coii- 

now 
ee  wo 
,     15e- 

voat'li 
there, 

•noy." 
3onibs. 
or  I'vo 
hain't 
friend 
rs  steer 
11  p'int 
lit  that 
'  direct 
sarcuni- 


JALAP    COOMIiS  S    FoririKKX    I'AFK    OF    FKKT 


!  I 


(( 


T  wouldn't  rare  if  tlu'V  had  six  days'  start,"  an- 


SWt'l't'( 


1  r 


liil 


I  am  confident  that  we  could  still  hoat 


them  with  just  oi'dinary  snow-slioes  and  sledges  and 
plain  every -day  Nortli  American  do^s.  'I'hcy  have 
gone  around  the  ojreat  arctic  hend  of  the  Yukon,  liavcn't 
tliey  ?  And  so  have  a  journey  of  at  K'ast  se\'en  hun- 
di'cd  miles  ahead  of  them  before  tliey  reach  I'ort  y  ]\[ile." 
"Yes,"  rejilied  Jala)).     "The}'  said  as  it  were  the 


only  navigable  channel, 


?) 


"  Well,  it  isn't,  for  I  know  of  another  tliat  is  equally 


good,  and  two  hundred  nines  or  so  shorter,  i  on  see, 
there  is  a  big  river  coming  from  the  southeast  and 
emptying  into  the  Yukon  somewiiere  in  this  vicinity, 
called  the  Tanana." 

"That's  right,"  assented  the  sailor, ''  for  I've  already 
])assed  its  mouth  twice  about  half-way  between  here 
and  where  the  AV.  Jlic/iads  is  friz  in." 

"Good  enough,"  said  Phil.  "  Xow  by  following 
tliis  Tanana  for  two  or  three  lumdred  miles,  and  tak- 
ing up  one  of  its  eastern  l)ranches  that  is  called  the 
Glieesah,  or  some  such  nanu',  and  crossing  a  divide, 
we  can  strike  the  headwaters  ol"  Forty  Mile  Creek." 

"  And  sail  down  with  the  current,  run  into  port  un- 
der a  full  press  of  canvas,  and  cajiture  tlie  market 
afore  the  enemy  iieaves  in  sight  I"  exclaimed  Jala[) 
Coombs,  enthusiastically,  his  p)-actical  mind  quick  to 
note  the  advantages  of  l^hiTs  sciieme.  "  Ijut  what's 
to  become  of  me?'"  he  added,  anxiously.  "  Kin  ye  lit 
me  out  with  a  new  pair  of  feet?" 

"Certainly  we  can,"  replied  Phil,  ])romptly.  "  AVe 
can  fit  you  out  with  fourteen  new  i)air,  and  will  guar- 
antee that,  thus  ])rovided,  you  will  be  able  to  travel 
as  fast  as  the  rest  of  us." 

"Fourteen  pair  o'  feet?"  repeated  Jalaj>  Coombs, 
retlectivelj',  "and  slow-shoes  on  every  ])air?  Seems 
to  me,  son,  you  must  be  calkilating  to  run  me  under  a 


t? 

■I 


f:; 


I    1, 'I 


,1     I 


'  ll'  ,1, 1 


:i:.: 


'    ) 


■ti.i; 


112 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLEDGES 


kind  of  a  santipodo  ricr,  wliicli  it  looks  like  the  strain 
on  tlie  linll  Avould  be  too  ijjreat.  As  for  navigating 
fourteen  }>air  of  slow-slioes  all  to  once,  I  don't  reckin 
old  Kite  hisself  could  do  il.  Still,  if  you  think  it  can 
be  did,  Avby  go  ahead  and  try  it  on.  I'm  agreeable, 
as  the  cat  said  after  he'd  swallowed  the  ca[)'n's  Avife's 
canary." 

So  Phil's  ))lan  was  adopted  ■without  a  dissenting 
voice,  ami  from  that  moment  Jala])  Coombs  said  noth- 
ing more  about  a  return  to  St.  ]\Iichaels. 

That  very  evening,  leaving  Serge  to  see  what  could 
be  done  for  the  sailor-man's  lameness,  and  taking  Ku- 
rilla  with  him  to  act  as  interpreter,  Phil  visited  several 
Indian  huts.  At  these  he  iinally  succeeded  in  purchas- 
ing enough  furs  and  moose-hide  for  a  huge  sleeping- 
bag,  which  the  several  scjuaws,  who,  under  promise  of 
a  liberal  recompense  in  tea,  ujulertook  its  construc- 
tion, promised  should  be  ready  by  morning.  l*hil  also 
bought  an  immense  pair  of  arctic  sleeping-socks  and  an 
extra  supply  of  snow-goggles. 

When  he  told  Kurilla  of  their  change  of  plan,  and 
that  they  intended  going  up  the  Tanana,  the  latter 
re])lied,  dubiously,  "  iAIe  plenty  don't  know  um.  May- 
be o-it  lose.     Yaas.'' 

"Oh,  that'll  be  all  right,"  answered  Phil,  cheerfully. 
"  Vou'U  |)lenty  know  um  before  Ave  get  through  with 
um,  and  whenever  you  don't  know  which  way  to  go, 
just  come  and  ask  me." 

When  he  returned  to  the  house  he  found  Serge  boil- 
ing with  indignation.  "  Do  you  know,"  he  cried,  "  that 
j\[r.  Coombs  has  walked  all  the  way  from  St.  ]\[ichaels 
without  pads  in  his  boots,  because  those  other  fellows 
told  him  his  feet  would  toughen  <piicker  if  he  didn't 
use  them?  The  consequence  is  they  are  simply  raw 
from  blisters,  and  every  step  ho  takes  must  be  like 
treading  on  knives." 


JALAl'    COOMI'.S  S    FOrUTEEX    I'ATU    OF    ITA.T       113 


|c  boil- 
"tluit 
Ichaels 
lellows 
laidn't 
ly  raw 
le  like 


"  It  lias  bctMi  tcflious  at  tiiiios,''  admitted  Jalap 
Coombs.  "And  under  the  sarcumstanccs  I  don't  know 
but  what  I'd  rtulier  havo  ono  jiaii"  of  feet  than  four- 
teen, oi"  even  half  tlu!  number." 

"  Isn't  it  c^ood  to  have  old  Jalap  with  us  onee  more  ?" 
asked  I'inl  of  Serge,  after  they  had  turned  in  that  night. 

"  Indeed  it  is  ;  but  do  you  notiee  how  ho  has 
changed  ?" 

"1  should  say  I  had.  He  is  like  a  salt-water  fish 
suddenly  dfo|»ped  into  a  fresh  -  water  pond.  llc'll 
come  out  all  right,  though,  especially  if  we  can  only 
get  his  feet  into  shape  again." 

That  night  the  mercury  fell  to  fifty -nine  degrees 
below  zero,  and  the  next  morning  even  ]*hil,  impa- 
tient as  he  was  to  proceed,  had  not  the  heart  to  order 
men  and  dogs  out  into  that  bitter  air  before  sunrise. 
AVith  that,  however,  the  mercurv  began  slowlv  to  rise, 
and  when  it  had  crept  up  nineteen  degrees,  or  to  only 
forty  dcGfrees  below,  the  youni;  leader  declared  the 
weather  to  be  warm  enoucfh  for  anybody.  So  he,  or- 
dered  the  sledges  to  be  got  ready,  and  when  the  one 
drawn  by  his  own  team  came  dashing  up  to  the  door, 
he  announced  that  Mr,  Coombs's  fourteen  pair  of  feet 
were  at  his  service.  He  also  politely  requested  the 
sailor -man  to  crawl  into  a  big  fur -lined  bag  ■with 
which  the  sledge  was  provided,  and  make  himself 
comfortable. 

"  But,  Phil,"  demurred  the  other,  "I  ain't  no  passen- 
ger to  be  tucked  up  in  a  steamer-cheer  on  deck.  I'm 
ship])ed  for  this  v'y'ge  as  one  of  the  crew." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  Phil.  "Then  of  course  you  will 
obey  orders  without  a  murmur,  for  I  remember  hear- 
ing you  say,  when  we  were  aboard  the  /Seaineic,  that 
even  if  a  ca])tain  were  to  order  his  wdiole  crew  to  knit 
hedquilts  or  tidies,  they'd  be  bound  to  obey  to  the  best 
of  their  ability." 


,! 


f'  -w-* 


Mm 


114 


HXOW-SIIOKS    AND    SLKlXiKH 


.1  i-iii 


Ml; 


"Sart.'iin,"  adniittcMl  tlio  f)tlior.  "I  ,L?<)t  Ili;it  from 
old  \\'\\v  K()l>ers(»i),  wliicli  l)C'<l(|iiilts  (//k/  tidies  wvva 
Ids  very  words."  'riicii,  witlu'ut  i'lirthcr  rciiioiistraiicc, 
tlu!  crippled  sailoi"  st(>))|)ed  to  tho  slcdgo,  slid  feet  iirsf, 
into  the  \)'\<^  li.aijr,  '"uid  lay  there  like  an  animated  miiin- 
my,  with  the  hood  of  his  ])arka  drawn  close  about  his 
face.  Its  encirclinuf  frinu^e  of  loiiu^  wolfdiair,  adde<l 
to  his  preternatnrjd  p^ravity  of  ronntenanee,  i^avo  hini 
such  a  comical  expression  that  the  hoys  could  not  lielp 
shoulinuj  with  lauu^hter  as  Ivurilla  cracked  his  great 
wliij)  and  the  dot^s  spramn^  away  with  their  new  burdcp. 

Phil  took  the  lead,  as  usual,  and  when  they  reached 
the  mouth  of  th(>  'l\inana,  which,  t)n  account  of  its 
broad  expanse,  there  was  no  chance  of  mistaking,  he 
turned  into  it  without  liesitation,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes they  had  taken  their  last  view  of  the  Yukon  for 
many  a  long  day. 

At  its  moutli  tlie  Tanana  is  nearly  three  miles 
broad,  or  as  wide  as  the  Yukon  itself,  and  is  filled 
with  islands,  on  which  arc  stranded  (juantities  of  up- 
rooted trees  of  greater  size  than  an}'  seen  on  the  Yu- 
kon above  that  point. 

The  bitterness  of  the  cold  continued  unabated,  and 
tlio  sledge  party  had  hardly  lost  sight  of  tlie  Yukon 
cro  the  young  leader  heard  hiniself  hailed  from  the 
rear,  arid  ])aused  to  learn  what  was  wanted. 

"I  !;ay,  Cap'n  Phil,"  began  Jalap  Coombs,  with  chat- 
tering teeth,  "  is  it  your  orders  or  desire  that  your  men 
should  freeze  to  death  ?" 

"Certainly  not,"  laughed  the  lad. 

"  Then,  sir,  I  hns  the  honor  to  report  that  this  mem- 
ber of  the  crew  is  already  froze  solid  half-way  up,  with 
ice  making  fast  through  the  remainder  of  his  system." 

"  That  is  entirely  contrary  to  orders,"  replied  Phil, 
stenily,  "and  must  be  stopped  at  once.  So,  sir,  put 
your  helm  to  port,  and  run  for  yonder  timber." 


'^'  'i'l'N    I'AIK    OF    FKKT        1]5 

'-y  CMM.fuI  ,,r„.,.  c,,,-;]-,      ,f     "    ■■      '"■"".  "■"'  in»anlly 

'-"  to  .■on,...,.k  II.       ';,,;:''  "f.  •-.  "l.iH,  ,„„v,..i 


■';i 


ft 


T 


M-,      t.. 


■  ;    1 

■  1 

1 

i 

ii' 

( 

;' 

iji!,t; 


CHAPTER  XVIIT 
CIIRISTifAS    ON    THE    TAXAXA 

"Look  here,"  snitl  Phil,  refcrrhig  to  tlie  mate's  hist 
surprising  statement,  "  wasn't  your  friend  Mr.  Rober- 
son  in  the  habit  of  drawing  the  long  bow  ?" 

"  No,"  rej)lied  Jalap  Coombs,  in  surprise  at  the 
question  ;  "  lie  couldn't  abide  'em." 

"Couldn't  abide  what?" 

"l>ows,  nor  3'et  arrers,  since  when  he  were  a  kid 
some  boys  put  Uj)  a  game  on  him  that  they  called 
"William  Tell,  which  allers  di<l  seem  to  me  the  foolish- 
est  game,  seeing  that  his  name  warn't  William,  but 
Kite,  and  lie  Avarn't  expected  to  tell  anything,  only 
just  to  stand  with  a  punkin  on  his  head  for  them  to 
shoot  their  boAV-arrers  at.  Waal,  the  very  fust  one 
missed  the  punkin  aiul  plunked  poor  Kite  in  the 
stummick,  after  which  iie  didn't  have  no  use  for  a 
long  bow  nor  a  short  ])ow,  nor  yet  a  bow  of  any  kind." 

"I  don't  blame  him,"  laughed  Serge.  "But  we 
would  ver}''  much  like  to  know  how  he  determined 
latitude  by  tea  aiul  coffee." 

"Easy  enough,"  was  the  reply.  "You  see,  tea  is 
druidv  mostly  in  cold  latitoods  similar  to  this,  and  cof- 
fee in  warm.  The  higher  the  latitood,  the  hotter  and 
stronger  the  tea,  and  the  less  you  hear  of  coffee.  At 
forty- live  or  thereabouts  they's  drunk  .about  alike, 
while  south  of  that  coffee  grows  blacker  and  more 
common,  while  tea  takes  a  back  seat  till  you  get  to 
the  line,  where  it's  mighty  little  used.     Then  as  you 


ill 


CIIKIS'niAS    ON    THE    TANA X A 


117 


2fo  soutli  of  lliat  tlic  same  thinf^  boijins  all  over  again  ; 
but  tlicre's  not  many  would  notice  sich  things,  and 
t'ewor  as  would  put  'cm  to  practical  nsc  like  old  Kite 


lone 


5) 


a 


"Mr.  Coombs,"  said  Phil,  "}ou  sound  pretty  Avell 
thawed  out,  and  if  that  is  the  case  we'll  get  under  way 
again." 

Aye,  aye,  sir  !"  responded  the  mate,  thrashing  his 
long  arms  vigorously  across  his  chest  to  restore  circu- 
lation, and  then  sli])|)ing  resignedly  into  his  fur  bag. 
"Anchor's  apeak,  sir,"  And  away  sped  the  sledges 
Uj)  the  broad  level  of  the  Tanana. 

Every  member  of  the  Jiarty  hail  by  this  time  b(v 
come  so  thoroughl}^  broken  in  to  his  duties  that  v/hen 
they  made  camp  that  night  the  j)romptness  with  which 
it  was  pre})ared,  as  Avell  as  the  ensuing  comfort,  was  a 
nn'elation  to  Jalap  Coond's,  wiio  <leclared  that  there 
had  l)een  nothing  like  it  in  the  cam])S  of  the  other 
party. 

"Of  course  not,"  said  Pliil,  "for  they  haven't  got 
Serii'e   IJelcofskv   alonuf,   so   how  could   their  comfort 


'o» 


;" 


eqnal  ours 

At  this  Sergi',  covered  with  confusion,  replied,  "Non- 
sense, Phil  !  You  know  it  is  bi'cause  we  have  got  such 
capital  cam))men  as  Kurilla  and  CUdtsah  with  us.'' 

At  this  the  face  of  the  elder  Indian  beamed  with 
pleasure,  lie  did  not  exactly  nndei'stand  tlui  conver- 
sation ;  but  believing  that  he  ought  to  make  some  I'c- 
ply,  he  pointed  to  Jalap  Coombs,  and,  looking  at  i*hil, 


rcmai 


ked 


You  fadder 


aas. 


no  moans 


I>ut  the  journey  u])  the  Tanana  was  by 
an  unbroken  record  of  swift  movings  from  one  com- 
f'M'table  camp  to  another,  or  of  jokes  and  pleasantries. 
The  days  were  now  at  their  shortest,  so  that  each  (!ould 
boast  only  about  four  hours  of  sunlight,  and  even  that 


118 


SXOW-SHOKS    AM)    SI.KIKiES 


i  I.; 


'  U  \  \4 


was  frcr|uciit.ly  obscured  by  fioix'o  storms,  when  thn 
howiiiiy  winds  cut  like  kni\cs,  and  it  required  every 
ounce  of  Phil  Ivyder's  ])luck  as  well  as  Serge  Ijelcol'- 
sky's  dogged  determination  to  keep  the  little  l).'irty  in 
motion.      The   feet   of  tlie  poor  dogs  were   often   so 


pii'i'ccd  by  ice  slivers  that  their  tracks  were 


mar 


ke.l 


with  blood.  The  ohler  and  more  experienced  would 
bite  at  these  and  pull  them  out.  Others  would  howl 
with  pain,  while  Rome  would  lie  down  and  refuse  to 
work  until  they  were  put  in  boots,  Avhich  were  little 
bags  of  deer-hide  drawn  over  their  feet  and  fastened 
W'ith  l)uckskin  thongs. 

It  was  a  journey  of  constant  and  painful  struggle 
and  of  dreary  monotony,  each  day  being  only  the  same 
endless  succession  of  ice-l)ound  river,  snow -covered 
lulls,  and  sombre  forest.  Especially  depressing  was 
the  night  of  the  24th  of  December,  when,  with  an  icy 
wind  moaning  througli  the  tree-tops  of  the  subarctic 
forest,  and  the  siiivering  dogs  edging  towards  the  tire 
for  a  share  of  its  grateful  Avarmth,  l*hil  and  Serge  and 
Jalap  C'Oombs  reminded  each  other  that  this  was  Christ- 
mas Eve.  Never  before  had  Phil  spent  one  away  fi'<  u 
home,  nor  had  the  others  ever  been  so  utterly  removed 
from  the  cheering  influences  of  tlio  joyous  season.  So 
Phil  described  what  he  knevv"  was  taking  ])lace  in  far- 
distant  New  London  at  that  very  hour,  and  Serge  told 
of  merry  times  in  quaint  old  Sitka,  while  Jalap  Coond)s 
recalled  many  a  noble  plum-duit  that  liad  graced  Christ- 
mas feasts  far  out  at  sea,  until  they  all  grew  homesick, 
and  linally  crawled  into  their  sleejting-bags  to  dream 
of  scenes  as  remote  from  those  suri'ounding  them  as 
could  well  be  imagined. 

As  they  always  selected  a  camping-]>lace  and  ]>re- 
pared  for  the  long  night  by  the  last  of  the  scant}'  day- 
litiht  or  in  the  miihlle  of  the  ufteiMioon,  so  they  alwa\s 
resumed  their  journey  by  the  moonlight  or  starlight, 


ClIKISTMxVS    ON    TIIK    TAN'ANA 


110 


ivist- 

sick, 

Iroani 

in  as 


|\v:ns 


IS. 


flit. 


or  even  in  the  darkness  of  two  or  tlireo  o'clock  tlio 
next  niorninL;.  On  Christmas  morning  they  started,  us 
nsnal,  many  hours  before  daylight,  and,  either  owing 
to  the  vagueness  of  all  outlines,  or  because  his  thoughts 
were  far  away,  tin;  young  leader  mistook  a  branch  for 
the  main  river,  and  headed  for  a  })ortion  of  the  mighty 
wilderness  that  no  while  man  liad  ever  yet  explored. 

About  noon  they  passed  a  forlorn  native  village  of 
three  or  four  snow-covered  huts,  the  occupants  of 
which  gazed  at  the  unaccustonuMl  sight  of  white  trav- 
elhn's  in  stolid  amazement.  They  had  gone  nearly  a 
mile  beyond  this  sole  evidence  of  human  occupation 
to  be  found  in  many  a  weary  league  when  I'hil  sud- 
denly stopped. 

"Look  here!"  lie  exclaimed,  ''what  do  vou  two  sav 
to  going  back,  making  a  camp  near  that  village,  and 
having  some  sort  of  a  Christnnis,  after  all  ?  It  doesn't 
seem  right  for  white  folks  to  let  the  day  go  b}''  with- 
out celebrating  it  somehow." 

As  the  others  ])romptly  agreed  to  this  projiosition 
the  sledges  were  fai-ed  about,  and  a  few  minutes  later 
the  nuisic  of  jMuskv's  jinuling  bells  again  attniited  the 
wonderinii'  natives  from  their  burrows. 

Camp  was  made  on  a  wooded  island  o])positc  the 
village,  and  while  the  others  were  clearing  the  snow 
from  a  s])ace  some  fifty  feet  s(|uare,  and  banking  it  up 
on  the  windward  side,  Phil  took  liis  gun  and  set  forth 
to  hunt  for  a  Christmas  dinner.  An  hour  later  he  re- 
turned with  four  arctic  hares  and  a  brace  of  ptarmigan, 
or  Yukon  grouse,  whose  winter  ]»lumage  was  as  s]U)t- 
less  as  the  snow  itself. 

He  found  Serge  and  Jala))  Coombs  concocting  a 
liugc  ]>lum-diiflF,  while  from  tlic  brass  kettle  a  savor}' 
steam  was  already  issuing.  Kurilla  ami  Chitsah  had 
chopped  a  hole  through  four  feet  of  ice  and  were  iish- 
inix,  while    a   few   natives    from   the   villag(!   liovered 


■"r; 


mmm 


120 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLEDGES 


lilt 


1  j 
i  i- 


HH 


about  the  outskirts  of  tlio  camp,  watcliing  its  strann'c 
life  with  curious  interest.  I'liey  were  very  sliy,  and 
moved  away  wlien  Piiil  apj)roaelu'd  them,  ^^eeing  which 
lie  called  Kurilla  and  bade  him  tell  them  that  a  i)resent 
wouhl  be  o'iven  to  every  man,  Avoman,  and  child  who 
should  visit  the  camj)  before  sui.'set. 

At  first  thev  could  not  comijrehend  this  startlini; 
proposition,  but  aftei-  it  had  been  repeatecl  a  few  times 
the  younpfest  of  them,  a  mere  boy,  uttered  a  joyous 
shout  and  started  on  a  run  for  tlie  villag'e.  A  few 
minutes  later  its  entire  ])0))ulation,  not  more  than 
twenty-five  in  ail,  including  babes  in  arms,  or  rather  in 
the  hoods  of  their  mother's  parkas,  came  hurrvinii  over 
from  the  mainhmd  iilled  with  eager  expectanc}'. 

To  every  man  Phil  prest'utcMl  a  small  piece  of  to- 
bacco, to  every  woman  a  handful  of  tea,  and  to  every 
child  a  Discuit  di|)ped  in  molasses.  ^Vitll  each  ])resent 
he  uttered,  very  distinctly,  the  word  "Christmas."  At 
leno'th  one  child — though  whether  it  were  a  bov  or  a  mr\ 
he  could  not  make  out,  for  their  fur  garments  were  all 
exactly  alike — looked  up  with  a  bashful  smile  and  said 
"  Kikmuk."  In  a  mimite  all  the  others  had  caught  the 
word,  and  the  air  rang  with  shouts  of  "•  Kikmuk,"  min- 
ixlcd  with  iovous  laughter. 

Then  they  all  trooped  back  to  the  village,  shouting 
"  Kikmuk  "  as  they  went  ;  and  so  long  as  they  live  the 
word  will  be  associated  in  their  minds  with  hapjiiness 
and  good-will.  Three  of  them,  a  man  and  two  women, 
afterwards  returned, Itringing  with  them  a  ])air  of  dainty 
moccasins,  a  fox-skin,  and  an  intestine  filled  with  melt- 
ed fat,  which  they  timidly  p'-osented  to  Phil,  Serge,  an<l 
Jalap  (\)ombs  respectively.  The  last  named  regarded 
his  gift  rather  dubiously,  but  accepted  it  with  a  hearty 
"Kikmuk,'"  and  remarked  that  it  would  ])robably  be 
gooil  for  his  feet,  wdiich  it  aftei'wards  ])roved  to  l)e. 
These  three  were  invited  to  dine  with  KunUa  and 


all 


'c  tl>e 

lilK'SS 

ainty 
melt- 
1 


:in< 


Im 


UmI 


Icai'lV 


I      "^^V.fA^'^  '■'■'''*■; 


ly 


1 


)C 


ami 


Wr 


i 


\\  n 


it 


t€ 


ll! 


if  ' 


CHlilSTMAS    ON    TIIK    lAXAXA 


121 


'    i; 


Cliitsali,  an  invitation  which  they  nccfiitctl,  and  s<>  hc- 
canie  the  guests  of  the  Christmas  dinner.  On  tlitir 
side  of  the  firu  the  feast  consisted  hii'iielv  of  tlie  ii^h 
tlie  Indians  had  just  caugiit,  to  wliicii  were  ad(h'd  un- 
stinted tea  and  a  liberal  supply  of  the  ])luni-dulf.  On 
the  other  side  were  mock-turtle  soup  d  Id  aniy  baked 
lish,  rabbit  fricassee,  roast  grouse,  plum-dulf,  iianl 
brea<l,  tea,  and  cocoa  ;  all  of  which  combined  to  form 
what  Phil  pronounced  to  bo  the  very  best  Christmas 
diinier  lie  had  ever  eaten,  in  which  sentiment  Serge  and 
Jalap  Coombs  heartily  concurred. 

Even  the  dosjjs  were  [jiven  cause  to  rejoice  that 
C'hristmas  had  at  length  come  to  their  snowy  laml  by 
receiving  a  double  ration  of  dried  hsh,  which  put  them 
into  such  good  s[)irils  that  they  spent  the  greater  jtart 
of  the  night  in  a  rollicking  game  of  romps. 

On  the  Indian  side  of  the  tire  the  unwonted  good 
cheer  so  overcame  the  shyness  of  the  villagers  that 
the  man  ventured  to  ask  questions  regarding  the  in- 
tentions and  destination  of  this  sledge  l)arty  of  stran- 
gers. AVlien  these  were  stated  by  Kurilla,  he  remained 
silent  for  a  minute.  Then  he  delivered  a  long  and  ani- 
mated speech. 

As  a  result  of  this,  and  when  it-  was  finished,  Ku- 
rilla left  his  own  side  of  the  fn'e  and,  ai)proaching  Phil, 


sau 


1 


You  go  Fortv  Mile?'' 

Yes.     We  are  going  to  Forty  ]\Iile,  of  course." 

No  like  um  Tanana?" 

Certainly,  I  like  the  Tanana  well  enough.  T  shall 
like  it  better,  tlu  ugh,  when  we  have  seen  the  last  of 
it." 


(( 


(( 


(( 


(( 


a 


No  can  see  nni  now." 

Why  not  ?     There  it  is  right  out  yonder 

No.     Him  Kloot-!advu-ka,      Tanana 


so     (pomtnig 
to  the  way  they  had  come).    "  You  go  so  way"(i)ointing 


{■  ; 


I  J. 


I  )•' 


<  , 


ii 

li 

1 

122 


SNOW-RIIOES    ANT)    sr.EDOES 


iij)  -  stream),  "got  lose;    mcljlx;    no   lin' ;    plenty   had. 
Vaas  !" 

So,  all  on  account  of  kecitinu^  Christmas  and  tryinf 
to  bring  a  little  of  its  joy  into  the  hearts  of  those  chil- 
dren of  the  wilderness,  Phil's  mistake  was  dis(tovered 
before  its  consequences  became  disastrous,  and  lie  was 
once  more  enabled  to  place  his  little  party  on  the  right 
road  to  Sitka. 


i^ 


'      I 


CHAPTER  XlX 


A    T5ATTLK    WITH    WOLVES 


nn 


1 


TriK  rciiiuindiT  of  the  journey  iq*  the  Tan.ina  was 
Gvcntriil,  l)Ut  so  long  tliat  the  new  year  was  well 


)egnn  ere  the  sledge  party  lelt  it  and  turned  uj)  the 
Gheesali  brancli,  whieli  iiows  in  from  the  east.  An 
Indian  guide,  ])rocured  at  the  last  village  by  the  prom- 
ise of  a  pound  of  tobacco  for  his  services,  accompa- 
nied them  on  their  four  days' journey  up  this  river,  and 
to  the  summit  of  the  bleak,  wind-swept  divide,  live 
hundred  feet  above  timber-line.  This  gave  the  dogs 
a  hard  pull,  though  Jalap  Coombs  insisted  ujx)!!  light- 
ening their  load  by  walking  ;  nor  from  this  time  on 
would  he  a^'ain  consent  to  be  treated  as  an  invalid. 

The  summit  once  |)assed,  they  plunged  rajiidly  down 
its  farther  side,  and  into  the  welcome  shelter  of  timber 
frino-iuo;  a  tiny  stream  whose  course  they  were  now  to 
follow.  Their  guide  called  it  the  Tukh-loo-gaiie-Iukh- 
nough,  which,  after  vain  attem])ts  to  remenibci-,  J*hil 
shortened  to  "  Tougli  Enough."  Jalap  Coombs,  how- 
ever, declared  that  this  was  not  a  "  sarcumstance  "  to 
the  names  of  certain  down-Easl  streams  among  which, 
he  was  l)orn,  and  to  pi'ove  his  assertion  began  to  talk 
glibly  of  the  Miscpiabenish,  the  Keejimkoopic,  the 
Kashagawigamog,  the  Kahwahcandjejewagamog,  and 
others  of  like  brevity,  until  l*hil  bei>'n;ed  him  to  take  a 
rest. 

That  night,  while  the  cam})  was  buried  in  the  j)ro- 
found  slumber  that  followed  a  day  of  unusually  hard 


-^m 


124 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLKIXJES 


iS 


work,  and  llio  lire  li;i(l  biirinMl  to  :i  l)C'(l  of  coals,  llio 
siiiL^U',  loiii^-drawii  lioui  of  a  wolf  was  ])oriU'  to  it  with 
Ktartliii;4  distinctness  by  the  niLjlit.  wind.  As  tlionnh 
it  were  a  signal,  it  was  answered  from  a  do/en  dilfer- 
eiil  directions  at  once.  The  alert  doos  spranuj  from 
tiieir  snowy  beds  with  bristling  crests,  and  hurled  back 
a  challenge  of  lierce  l)arkings  ;  but  this,  being  an  inci- 
dent of  niglitly  occurrence,  failed  to  arouse;  the  tiiuul 
sleepers. 

AVithin  a  few  minutes  the  dread  how  lings  had  so  in- 
creased in  volume  that  they  seemed  to  issue  irom  scores 
of  savagc!  throats,  and  to  completely  encircle  the  little 
(;amp.  It  was  as  if  all  ihe  wolves  of  the  forest,  ren- 
<lered  desjx'rate!  by  famine,  had  combined  foi*  a  laid 
on  the  supply  of  provisions  so  kindly  placed  within 
their  reach.  Nearer  and  nearer  they  came,  until  their 
dark  forms  could  be  seen  like  shadows  of  evil  onuii 
Hittinir  amonix  the  trees  and  across  the  open  moonlit 


spaces. 


4 


ri-" 


The  dogs,  at  iirst  eagei-  to  meet    their  mortal  foe 


now  huddU'd  together,  terrilied  by  overwhelming  nuni- 
bers.  Still  the  occupants  of  the  camp  slept,  uncon- 
scious of  their  dangei-.  Suddenly  thei'e  came  a  I'ush, 
an  unearthly  clamor  of  savagi;  out(!ry,  and  the  sh^epers 
were  roused  to  a  fearful  wakeninir  bv  a  confused  strui:'- 
gle  within  the  very  limits  of  the  camj>,  and  over  their 
recumbent  forms.  They  s])rang  nj)  with  yells  of  terror, 
and  at  the  sound  of  human  voices  the  invaders  drew 
back,  snai)ping  and  snarling  with  rage. 


(( »■ 


Timber   wolves  !"'    shouted    Serge, 
riiil  !     Quick  !" 


Y 


our  rillt 


Emboldened  by  this  reinforcement,  the  dogs  ad- 
vanced to  the  edgt>  of  the  camp  space,  but  with  l(»w 
growls  in  ])lace  of  their  former  defiant  barkings. 

Phil  was  tr(Mnbling  with  excitement;  but  Serge, 
steady  as  a  rock,  was  throwing  the  No.  4's  from  the 


A    IJATII.K    WVni    WoLVKS 


1 


s     11(1- 
loW 


n  tlic 


double  -  barrel  :iii<l  i-eloiuliiiLr  witli  biicksliot,  at  the 
same  time  oalliiii^  to  ("hitsah  to  pile  wood  on  the 
Hi'c,  and  \o  the  otlii'i-  Indians  not  to  Wvv  nntil  all  were 
leady.  .lalaj)  Coombs  seized  an  axe,  and,  ruri^etful  ol" 
the  bitter  cold,  was  rolliiii;-  np  his  sleeves  as  thoui^h  he 
))uri)osed  to  light  the  wolves  singledianded.  ^\t  the 
same  time  lie  denounced  them  as  pirates  and  bloody 
land-sharks,  and  dared  them  to  come  within  his  reatdi, 

"Are  you  ready?"  cried  Serge  ;  ''  then  lire  I"  And 
with  a  roar  that  woke  the  forest  echoes  for  miles,  the 
four  guns  poured  their  contents  into  the  dense  black 
mass  that  seemed  just  rea<]y  to  hurl  itself  for  ;i  second 
time  u])on  the  camp. 

With  frightful  howlings  the  j)ack  scattered,  and 
began  to  galloj)  swiftly  in  a  wide  circle  about  the  iire- 
lit  space.  One  huge  brute,  frenzied  with  rage,  leaped 
directly  towards  the  cam]),  with  gleaming  eyes  and 
frothing  mouth.  Kre  a  gun  could  be  levelled,  Jalap 
Coombs  stej)ped  forward  to  me(,'t  him,  and,  with  a 
mighty,  swinging  blow,  his  hea\  y  axe  cnislicd  the  skull 
of  the  on-coming  beast  as  though  it  had  liecn  an  egg- 
shell. Instantly  the  dogs  were  upo!i  him,  and  tearing 
fiercely  at  tlu'ir  fallen  enemy. 

With  the  iirst  shot  Phil's  nervousness  vanished,  and 
as  coolly  as  Serge  himself  he  followed,  with  levelled 
I'iHe,  the  movc>ments  of  the  yelling  pack  in  their  swift 
circling.  At  each  patch  of  moonlit  space  one  or  more 
of  the  fierce  brutes  fell  before  his  unerring  fire,  until 
every  shot  of  Ids  magazine  was  exhausted. 

'*  Xow,"  cried  Serge,  "  we  must  scatter  them.  Every 
man  take  a  firebrand  in  each  hand,  and  all  make  a 
dash  togethei-." 

"  Veiling,*'  added  Jalap  Coombs. 

"Yes,  yelling  louder  than  the  wt)lves  themselves." 

The  ]»lan  was  no  sooner  ])ro{)osed  than  adopted. 
]Musky,  Luvtuk,  big  Amook,  and  the  rest,  inspired  by 


120 


SN(.\V-Slloi;s   AM)  si>ki)(jf:s 


11 


^:iti 


.11 


* 


llicir  masters'  (iourajj^c,  j(»iii('(l  in  llic  assault;  and  bc- 
I'orc  that  lirc-bcariiiLT,  yt'llini;,  ((ii-nishiiii^  line  ot"  Im- 
iiiaiiit  \'  a!)<l  (loirs  tlio  uaiml  rorcsl,  raidci's  Lrave  way  ami 
llt'il  ill  all  (lircctions. 

'I'lic  whole  battle  bad  iiol  lasted  in>re  tbaii  five  iiiiii- 
iites,  bill  it  resulted  ill  tlie  death  of  uiueteeii  wolves, 
six  of  which  were  desj)atehe(l  i)y  the  sailor  man's  ter- 
rible axe  after  the  liudit  Mas  over  and  they,  more  or 
less  wounded,  were  slinkiiiL;"  away  towards  places  of 
hiding".  JJiit  the  do^s  found  them  out,  and  they  met  a 
swift  fate  at  the  hands  of  Jalap  Coombs. 

vVs  he  linallv  re-entere(l  the  eamo,  draLn-iiiij  the  last 
ouv  behind  him,  he  remarked,  with  a  eliuekic, 

"  Waal,  boys,  I  riither  guess  our  boat's  'high  line' 
this  time,  and  I'm  free  to  admit  that  this  here  wolf 
racket  beats  most  kinds  of  lishinu;  for  genuine  enter- 
tainment, onless  it's  fishing  for  sharks,  which  is  exciting 
at  times.  I'm  pleased  to  have  met  iij)  with  this  school, 
though,  for  it's  allers  comforting  to  run  across  fresh 
iiroofs  of  niv  friend  old  Kite  Uoberson's  knowiiiLi- 
iiess,  lie  useti'r  say  consarniiig  the  critters,  Kite  did, 
that  wolves  was  sharks  and  sharks  was  wolves,  and 
that  neither  of  'em  warn't  no  fit  ]»laythings  for  chil- 
dren ;  which  it  now  sei'Uis  to  me  he  were  correct,  as 
usual." 

"He  certainly  was,"  rejilied  l*hil,  Avho,  leaning  on 
his  rifle,  was  thoughtfully  regarding  tlie  shaggy  beast 
that  Kite  Roberson's  friend  liad  just  dragged  into 
cam]).  "■  IJut  aren't  these  uncommonly  big  wolves? 
I  nover  knew  they  grew  so  large." 

"  They  don't  generally,"  answered  Serge;  "  but  these 
ai'e  of  the  same  briH'd  as  the  great  Siberian  wolves, 
which,  you  know,  are  noted  as  being  the  largest  and 
fiercest  in  the  world." 

"I  don't  wonder  now  that  the  dogs  were  frightened," 
continued  Phil,  "  for  this  fellow  looks  twice  as  bier  aw 


I)C- 

Im- 
:iih1 


lUII- 

vcs, 
tcr- 

s  of 
U't  :i 


last 


[me 
wolf 

llttT- 

itiiKj; 


liool 


rcsii 

/iiiu;- 

(Vul, 

and 


fill 


;t,  as 


{[T  on 

beast 

into 


ives 


Ithese 
|)lves, 
and 


NOW,       CKIKI)    .<KK(iK     '•  Al.l.    MAKK    A    1>A>I1     IOLKHIKU 


ie( 


liiT  as 


m 


ill 


!  i- 


!  1 


i:l 


I 


A    liA'ITLK    WITH    WOLVES 


12' 


AiiK/ok,  .111(1  lie's  no  |)ni))iy.  Biit  I  say,  Sor^i',  yoiTi-o 
an  aw  riilly  plucky  clia]!.  ^Vs  for  niysi'H",  I  must  t'on- 
I'ess  I  was  so  badly  rattled  tliat  I  don't  believe  I  should 
liavo  even  tbouii'lit  of  a  u^un  before  tliev  were  on  us  a 
second  tune." 

"If  tliey  luid  innde  a  second  rusli  not  one  of  us 
would  bo  alive  to  talk  about  it  now,"  remarked  Serge, 
soberly  ;  "  and  it  was  only  tin;  |)romptness  of  our  at- 
tack that  u})set  their  ])lans.  In  dealing  with  wolves  it 
is  always  safest  to  force  the  iighting  ;  for,  while  they 
are  awful  bullies,  tln-y  M'e  cowards  at  heart,  like  all 
bullies  I  ever  heard  of." 

"  Ca])tain  Duff,  for  instance,"  said  Phil,  with  a  rem- 
iniscent smile,  'llien  lie  added  :  "  ^Vnyhow,  old  man, 
you  got  us  out  of  a  bad  scrape,  for  it  isn't  every  fellow 
who  would  know  just  how  to  d(.'al  with  a  j)ack  of 
wolves,  especially  when  wakened  from  a  souinl  sleep 
to  find  them  }>iling  on  top  of  him." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  was  quite  as  bad  as  that,"  ob- 
jected Serge.  "  I  expect  only  the  dogs  })iled  on  top  of 
us  when  they  were  driven  in.  ]>y-tlie-way,  did  you 
know  that  four  of  them  were  killed,  and  several  others 
])retty  badly  hurt?" 

*'Xo,  I  didn't,"  cried  Phil,  in  dismay.  "What  ones 
are  killed  V" 

"  Two  from  my  team,  one  from  yours,  and  one  from 
Chitsah's." 

"Oh,  the  villains  I"  exclaimed  the  young  leader. 
"Another  victory  like  that  would  cri])))le  us.  Do  you 
think  there  is  any  danger  of  them  coming  back  ?" 

"Not  just  now  ;  but  I  sliouldn't  bi'  surprised  to  hear 
from  them  again  to-morrow  night." 

"All  right.  Till  ghul  you  mentioned  it.  Xow  we'll 
Kce  if  we  can't  have  an  interesting  reception  jirepared 
for  them." 

"l*izen?"  (jueried  Jalap  C^_)ombs,  who  had   lighted 


BBm 


!l 


128 


SNOW-SHOES  Axn  si.i:i)(ii:s 


l!fi 


!l 


H  li 


11 


liis  pipi'  .'uxl  was  now  cotnjjliicently  v>':'lcliiii_i:j  tlie  skin- 
iiinu;  ot"  the  <l(';i(l  w«-)l\C's,  wliicli  had  l>eei>  ;iii(lertaken 
by  tlu!  tlirc'o  Indians. 

"  AVorse  than  that,"  answorcd  Pliil.  sioniiicantlv. 

By  the  time  tlie  Indians  had  tinislied  tlieir  task  and 
breakfast  liad  been  eaten  tlie  usual  startingdiour  had 
jirriveth  Two  of  tlie  wolf-skins  >vere  allotted  to  the 
cjuide,  who  was  to  leave  thcni  at  this  jxiint,  and  lie  set 
forth  on  his  return  journey  with  them  on  his  back. 
Rolled  in  them  were  the  ^^in^•le  dried  salmon  wdiich 
would  form  his  sole  sustenance  on  the  journey,  and 
th(^  cherished  ])ound  of  tobacco,  for  which  he  had  been 
williuL!,-  to  work  so  hard.  In  his  hand  lus  bore  an  old 
flintlock  musket  ;ha',  was  the  ]>ride  of  his  heart,  not 
so  much  on  account  of  its  shooting  (lualities,  Avhich 
were  very  uncertain,  as  by  reason  of  its  great  length. 
It  was  the  longest  gun  known  to  the  dwellers  of  the 
Tanana  N'alh^y,  and  conse(j[uently  the  most  valuable; 
for  the  Hudson  ]>ay  Com])any's  method  of  selling  such 
guns  was  to  exchange  one  for  as  many  marten,  fox,  or 
beaver  skins  as  could  be  piled  from  stock  to  muzzle 
when  it  stood  upright. 

"  I  hope  the  wolves  won't  attack  his  camjis,"  re- 
marked l*hil,  as  thev  watched  the  lonelv  liirure  ])ass 
out  of  sight  on  the  back  trail. 

"  Ilim  no  camp,"  declared  Kurilla. 

"  l)Ut  he  must.  ^VI'V,  it's  a  foui'-days'  journey  to 
his  home." 

"  No  ;  one  (hiy,  one  night.  Him  no  stop.  A\'oIf  no 
catch  um.      Vaas." 

^Vnd  KiH'illa  was  right,  for  the  Indian  wotdd  ]msh 
on  over  mile  after  mile  of  that  fro/en  solitude  with- 
out a  pause,  save  for  an  occasional  bite  from  Ids  dried 
salmon,  ami  a  handfid  of  snow  to  wash  it  down,  nntil 
Jic  reached  his  own  far-away  liome. 


urwuBUiuimB 


CHAPTER  XX 


CIIITSAH  S   NATURAL   TELEPIIOXE 


Skvknteen  green  wolf-skins  formed  a  heavy  f^ledge- 
load,  especially  for  the  weakened  dog-teams  ;  but  fort- 
unately Jalaj)  Coombs's  feet  were  again  in  condition 
for  walking,  and  snow  on  the  river  was  not  yet  deo|). 
So  it  was  determined  to  carry  them — at  least,  for  the 
})resent.  On  the  evening  following  that  of  the  en- 
counter with  the  Avolves,  I*hil,  leaving  the  work  of 
])rei)aring  camp  to  the  others,  unpacked  the  Eskimo 
wolf-traps  of  compressed  whalebone  that  he  had  pro- 
cured at  ]\rakagamoot.  He  had  twenty  of  the  ingen- 
ious little  contrivances,  and  wrapped  each  one  in  a 
strip  of  frozen  wolf-meat  tiiat  he  had  saved  and  brought 
along  for  tlie  purjiose.  When  all  were  thus  ])re))ared, 
he  carried  them  about  a  (juarter  of  a  mile  from  camp, 
and  then  drop[)ed  tiiem  at  short  intervals  in  a  great 
circle  about  it.  lie  knew  the  dogs  would  not  stray 
that  far  since  their  experience  of  the  night  before,  and 
so  felt  pretty  certain  that  the  traps  would  only  tind 
their  way  to  the  d(>stination  for  which  they  were  in- 
teiuhMh 

The  first  blood-chilling  howl  was  heard  sor)n  after 
dark,  ami  a  few  minutes  lat'"."  it  was  apjiareiit  that 
wiilves  were  again  gathering  from  all  (piarters.  Then 
the  anxious  watchers  caught  occasional  glimpses  of 
dim  forms,  and  sometimes  of  a  pair  of  gh'aming  eyes, 
that  invariably  drew  a  shot  from  Phil's  rifle.  Still  the 
wolves  seoned  to  remember  their  lesson,  or  v\sr  they 


t 


130 


SXOW-SIIOES   AND   >SLEDGES 


•ti 
I 


i.  i. 

I  '■ 


m 
iw 


■■WW: 


•i 


;■  I 


waited  for  tlio  occupants  of  tlio  camp  to  fall  aslccj),  for 
thoy  made  no  effort  at  an  attack. 

As  time  passed  the  wolf  tones  began  to  cliange,  and 
defiant  howiings  to  give  place  to  yel})S  and  yells  of 
distress.  Soon  other  soiinds  were  mingled  witli  these — 
the  fierce  snarlings  of  savage  beasts  fighting  over  their 
prey.  Tiie  traj)s  were  doing  their  work.  Tliose  wolves 
that  had  eagerly  gulped  them  down  were  so  stricken 
with  deadly  pains  that  they  staggered,  fell,  and  rolled 
in  the  snow.  At  tlie  first  sym])toms  of  distress  others 
sprang  upon  them  and  tore  them  in  ])ieces,  at  the  same 
time  battling  fiercely  over  their  cannibal  feast.  So 
wolf  fed  wolf,  while  the  niglit  echoed  with  their  hide- 
ous outcries,  until  finally  the  survivors,  gorged  with 
the  fiesh  of  their  own  kind,  slunk  away,  and  after 
some  hours  of  bedlam  quiet  once  more  reigned  in  the 
forest. 

So  Pliil's  scheme  proved  a  success,  and  for  the  re- 
mainder of  that  night  he  and  his  e()mj)anions  slept  in 
peace.  At  daylight  they  visited  the  scenes  of  woliish 
feasting,  and  found  everywhere  ]dentifiil  evidence  of 
what  had  taken  place  ;  but  this  time  they  gathered  in 
neither  rugs  nor  robes,  for  ojily  blood-stains,  bones, 
and  tattered  shreds  of  far  remained, 

PhiTs  only  regret  was  that  he  had  not  a  lot  more  of 
those  same  useful  tra})S,  though,  as  was  afterwards 
proved,  they^  were  not  needed,  for  never  again  during 
their  journey  did  wolves  appear  in  sufilcient  numbers 
to  cause  them  any  alarm. 

For  another  week  did  the  sledge  ])arty  journey  down 
th(i  several  streams  that,  emptying  one  into  another, 
finally  formed  the  Couehill  River,  or,  as  the  gold-dig- 
gers call  it,  Forty  3Iile  Crt'ck,  because  its  mouth  is 
forty  miles  down  tin;  Yukon  from  the  old  trading-post 
of  Fort  Keliance,  As  the  first  half  of  their  long  jour- 
ney drew  towards  a  close  they  became  anxious  as  to 


il: 


CHITS  All  S    XATUIiAL   TELEPHONE 


l:!l 


of 
Is 


\n 


;ing 
bors 


own 
her, 

lli  "is 
>ost 
Dur- 

Is  to 


its  results  and  impatient  for  its  end.  Wlien  would 
tliey  reach  the  settlement?  and  could  they  ij^et  there 
l)efore  their  rivals  who  had  followed  the  Yukon  ?  were 
the  two  questions  that  they  constantly  ar.ked  of  each 
other,  but  which  none  could  answer, 

Phil  grew  almost  despondent  as  he  reilected  upon 
the  length  of  time  since  they  left  old  Fort  Adams,  aiul 
gave  it  as  liis  opinion  that  the  other  party  must  have 
reached  Fcn'ty  Mile  long  since. 

Serge  also  feared  they  had,  though  he  didn't  see  how 
they  could. 

Jalap  Coombs  was  firm  in  his  belief  that  the  other 
i)artv  was  still  far  awav,  and  thai  his  would  be;  the 
first  in  ;  for,  quoth  he,  "  Luck  allers  has  l)een  on  my 
side,  and  I'm  <j:oing  to  believe  it  allers  will  be.  Mv 
old  friend  Kite  lioberson  useter  say,  speaking  of  luck, 
and  he  give  it  as  liis  own  experieuce,  that  them  as 
struck  the  best  kinds  of  luck  was  them  as  worked  the 
hardest  for  it;  and  ef  they  didn't  get  it  one  way  they 
was  sure  to  another.  Likewise  he  useter  say,  Kite  did, 
consarnini'  worriments,  that  ef  ve  di(bi't  i)av  no  atten- 
tion  to  one  'twould  l)e  mighty  apt  to  pass  ye  by;  but 
ef  ye  encouraged  it  by  so  much  as  a  wink  or  a  nod. 
ye'd  have  to  tight  it  to  git  red  of  it.  So,  seeiug  as 
they  liain't  no  worriments  hove  in  sitjht  yet,  what's  the 
use  in  s'anihiug  for  'eui  ?'' 

As  for  Kuril  la,  whenever  his  opinion  was  asked,  he 
always  grinned  and  returned  the  same  answer: 

"  Vou  come  pretty  (piick,  mebbe.     Yaas." 

So  each  day  of  the  last  three  or  four  brought  its 
fresli  ho}»e;  at  each  succeeding  bend  of  the  stream  all 
eyes  were  strained  eagc  rly  forward  for  a  sight  of  the 
ex})ecteil  cluster  of  log-huts,  and  eaeh  night  brt)Ught 
an  added  disa[>pointmeut. 

At  length  one  evening,  when  Phil,  who  liad  pushed 
on  longer  than  usual,  in  an  effort  to  end  their  sus{>cnse, 


ll~ 


i;?2 


SJs'OW-SIIOKS    AND    SLKDGES 


J  ■■! 


[ 


^'^l!l| 


■m 


was  reluctantly  compelled,  by  feathering  darkness,  to 
go  into  camp,  Chitsah  suddenly  attracted  attention  to 
himself  by  running  to  a  tree  and  })ressing  an  ear  to  its 
trunk.  As  the  others  stared  at  him,  a  broad  smile 
overspread  his  face,  and  he  said  something  to  liis  father, 
wliich  the  latter  instantly  interpreted. 

"What?"  cried  Phil,'  incredulously.  "He  thinks 
he  hears  the  sound  of  chop|)ing  V" 

"Yaas,"  answered  Kurilla.  "Axe,  choj)  nm,  white 
men,  plenty.     Yaas." 

"I,  too,  can  hear  somelhing  !"  exclaimed  Serge, 
who  had  imitated  Chitsah's  movements,  "though  I 
wouldn't  swear  it  was  cliopping." 

"Hurrah  !  So  can  I !"  shouted  I?hil,  after  a  moment 
of  intent  listening  at  another  tree.  "  First  time,  though, 
I  ever  knew  that  the  public  tele{)hone  service  was  ex- 
tended to  this  country.  The  sound  I  heard  might  be 
a  train  of  cars  twenty  miles  awa}',  or  a  woodp(;cker 
somewhere  within  sight.  Xo  matter.  If  Chitsah  says 
it's  cho])])ing,  it  must  be,  for  he  ought  to  know,  seeing 
that  lie  iirst  heard  it  with  the  aid  of  the  tree-tele- 
j)hone.  So  let's  go  for  it.  We  can  afford  to  travel  aii 
hour  or  two  in  the  dark  for  the  sake  of  meeting  the 
white  man  who  is  swinging  that  axe,  can't  we  ?" 

"Of  course  we  can,"  replied  Serge. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir!"  answered  Jalap  Coondis. 

"  Mebbe  catch  nm.  Yaas,"  added  Kurilla,  sharing 
the  general  enthusiasm. 

Even  the  tired  dogs  barked,  pricked  up  their  sharp 
ears,  ssnilfed  the  air,  and  did  not,  seemingly,  object  to 
moving  on. 

So  the  long  teams  were  again  swMing  into  line,  the  pis- 
tol-like rej)orts  of  the  three  sledge-whips  rang  shar[)ly 
through  the  keen  air,  and  the  Avhole  l)arty  swe})t  on 
down  the  darkening  river  at  a  greater  speed  than  they 


had  made  that  d; 


ly 


CIIITSAII  S    XATIRAI.    TELEPIIONK 


in;i 


.'I  an 
the 


larp 
;t  to 

pis- 
ir[)ly 
)t  on 
they 


An  hour  later,  as  they  I'oiindcd  a  pnijcctiiin'  point, 
Pliil  uttered  an  exulting'  slioul,  A  clustei-  of  tuin- 
kliuLT  liLjlits  shone  dead  ahead,  and  our  tra\ellers  Icnew 
that  their  ijjoal  was  won. 

"  Let's  <;iv(^  tlieni  a  volley,"  suu^L^ested  Serije.  *'  It's 
the  custom  of  the  oountr)-,  you  know." 

So  tiie  ij^uns  wore  taken  from  their  <leerskin  cover- 
ing's, and  at  ]^hil's  word  of  command  a  roar  from  double- 

CD      7 

barrel,  flintlo(d>c,  and  Winchester  wok(.'  ^lad  echoes 
from  both  sides  of  the  broad  valh'V  and  from  the  ruG^- 
ged  Yukon  cliU's  beyond.  Then,  with  whoopinp^s  and 
cheers  and  frantic  vel|»inu;s  of  doofs,  the  sledi^e  brii^ade 
dashed  on  towaivls  the  welcominL?  lights. 

"Hello  the  cam])  !"  yelled  Phil,  as  they  a[)proached 
the  dark  cluster  of  cabins. 

"On  de(dc  !"  roared  Jalap  Coombs,  as  though  he 
were  hailing  a  ship  at  sea. 

"I[(;ll()  yourself  !"  answered  a  gruff  voice — the  first 
hail  in  their  own  tongu(>  that  the  boys  had  heard  in 
nianv  a  week.  "  Who  are  vou  ?  Where  do  you  come 
from  ?     And  what's  all  this  racket  about?" 

"White  men,"  rej)lied  Phil,  "with  dog-sledges,  up 
from  YukoL.  mouth." 

"  Great  Scott  !  You  don't  say  so  I  Xo  wonder  you're 
n')isy  !  Hi,  l)()ys  !  Here's  the  iirst  winter  outlit  that 
ever  came  from  Yukon  moutli  to  Forty  Mile.  What's 
till'  matter  with  giving  them  a  salute?" 

"Nothing  ;it  all  !"  cried  a  score  of  voices,  and  then 
volley  after  volley  rang  fort!;,  until  it  seemed  as 
tnough  every  man  there  must  have  carrie-d  a  loaded 
gun  and  emptied  it  of  all  six  shots  in  honor  of  the 
occasion. 

]Men  came  running  from  all  directions,  and  before 
the  shooting  ceased  tlu;  entire  ]iopulation  of  the  camp, 
some  three  hundred  in  number,  wei-e  eagerly  crowding 
about  the  new-comers,  ])lying  them  with    ((Uestions, 


134 


SXOW-SIIOKS    ANT)    SIKlKiKS 


and  strngglincf  for  the  Jionor  of  sliakini^  liaiuls  with 
the  first  arrivals  of  ilic  year. 

"Arc  we  really  llie  first  to  como  up  the  river?" 
asked  Phil. 

"To  be  sure  yon  are.  Xot  only  that,  hut  the  first 
to  rcacli  the  diu^injinci^s  fi-oin  any  direction  since  navi- 
uation  (closed.  J>nt  how  did  you  como?  Xot  hy  the 
river,  I  know,  for  when  I  heai'd  your  sliooting  'twas 
clear  away  up  ihe  creek." 

"We  came  bv  the;  Tanana  and  across  the  Divide," 
answered  Phil,  " 'I'hero  is  another  ])arty  coming  hy 
way  of  the  river,  though,  and  we  were  afraid  they 
miglit  got  in  ahead  of  us." 

"]Iark  to  that,  h(»ys!  Ono  (rain  just  arrived,  aiul 
another  coming  !  I  tell  you,  old  Forty  Mile  is  i-ight 
in  it.  Daily  ex[)i-ess  fr(^)m  all  ])oints,  through  tickets 
to  Europe,  Aruj),  and  Arraj*  ;  morning  ]>a])ers  and  op- 
era-houses, circus  and  theaytrcs.  Looks  like  tho  hoom 
had  struck  us  at  last.  Ihit  say,  stranger,  what  is  tho 
news  from  below?" 

"New  steamer  on  her  way  up  the  river,  with  saw- 
mill, mining  machinery,  and  best  stock  of  goods  over 
seen  in  iVlaska,"  replied  i*hil,  quick  to  si-ize  the  opjtor- 
tiniity,  and  anxious  to  make  his  business  known  while 
ho  still  had  tho  field  to  himselt".  "  We  have  como 
from  lier,  and  are  on  our  way  to  San  Francisco  to 
send  up  a  imw  stock  for  next  st-ason.  So  wo  have 
only  stopped  to  take  your  orders  and  find  out  what 
will  be  tho  nujst  acce])table." 

"Hurrah  !"  yelled  the  crowd,  wild  with  excitement. 
"Send  us  a  brass-band,"  shouted  one.  'In  swaller- 
tails  and  white  kids,"  added  another.  "What's  the 
matter  with  moving  the  Palace  Hotel  u]>  hero?"  sug- 
gested a  third,  "  seeing  as  S;in  Francisco  isn't  in  it  any 
longer  with  Forty  Mile.  Especially  send  along  the 
cafo." 


CiriTSAII  S    NATURAL   TKI-KI'IIONK 


135 


"Come,  fellows,  let  up,"  cried  the  man  who  had 
been  the  lirst  to  welcome  tlio  new  arrivals,  and  whose 
name  was  Riley.  "  We  mnstn't  keep  these  LCcntlemeu 
standing  out  here  in  the  cold  any  longer.  I  reckon 
they're  liungry,  too,  and  M'ondering  why  we  don't 
invite  'cm  to  grub.  So,  men,  just  come  into  my  she- 
bang and  make  yourselves  at  home.  There  isn't  much 
to  it,  but  such  as  it  is  it's  yours,  so  long  as  you'll  honor 
yours  truly." 

"No,  come  with  me,"  cried  another  voice.  "I've 
got  beans,  Boston  baked,  fresh  from  the  can."  "I've 
got  molasses  and  sofl-tack,"  and  "  I've  just  made  a  disli 
of  scouse,"  "  Come  with  us,"  shouted  others, 

"No,  you  don't  !"  roared  Mv.  Riley.  "They're  my 
meat,  and  they  are  going  to  bunk  in  with  m(>.  Rut, 
boys,  you  can  send  along  your  beans  and  your  dope 
and  your  scouse,  and  whatever  else  comes  handy,  for 
I've  only  got  roast  beef  and  chicken-salad  and  a  few 
terrapin,  and  we  want  to  do  this  thing  up  in  stylo. 
So,  '  all  small  contributions  thankfully  received'  is  the 
word,  and  if  we  don't  scare  up  just  the  niftiest  8))read 
on  the  coast  this  night  then  my  name  isn't  Piatt  Riley, 
that's  all." 


ciTArTEPv  xxr 


A    YUKON    MINING   CAMP 


The  supper  provided  by  tlio  ]ios])italde  minors  was  a 
good  one,  and  lieartily  did  our  travellers  enjoy  it;  l)ut 
while  they  are  ai)peasing  the  extraordinary  appetites 
that  they  ae(|uired  somewhere  in  the  ^Alaskan  wihU'r- 
ness,  let  us  taiie  a  look  at  this  most  northern  of  Amer- 
icaii  mining  eamps. 

To  begin  witli,  altliough  it  is  at  the  junetion  of  For- 
ty Mile  C'reek  and  the  Yukon  River,  it  is  not  in  Alaska, 
but  about  twenty  miles  east  of  the  boundary  in  North- 
west Territory,  which  is  one  of  the  subdivisions  of  ("an- 
ada.  The  most  recent  name  of  this  camp  is  "  ]\[itciu'11,'' 
but  all  old  Yukon  miiu-rs  know  it  as  Cam])  l-'orty  3Iile. 
At  the  time  of  Phil  Ryder's  visit  it  contained  nearly 
two  liundred  log-cabins,  two  stores,  including  the  one 
that  he  establisiied  in  the  name  of  his  friend  Gerald 
Ilamer,  two  saloons,  both  of  which  were  closed  for  the 
season,  and  a  small  cigar  factory.  Although  the  Avin- 
ter  population  was  only  about  three  liundred,  in  suin- 
mcr-tijnc  it  is  nuudi  lar<>"er,as  many  of  th(>  miners  come 
out  in  the  fall  and  return  before  tlu^  15th  of  June,  at 
which  date,  accordinii"  to  Yukon  mininu;  law,  every  man 
owning  a  claim  must  be  on  tlie  ground,  or  it  may  be 
"jumped." 

Forty  ]\lile  is  wluit  is  known  as  a  ])lacer  cam)),  which 
means  that  its  gold  is  found  in  minute  particles  or 
"dust"  in  soft  earth,  from  which  it  can  be  washed  in 
sluices  or  rockers.    Into  one  of  these  a  stream  of  water 


A    VlKnN    MIMN(;    C'AMl' 


1  •'' 


is  luriK^d  tliat  sweeps  aw.'iv  all  llie  diii,  ;ui<]  'M'avel,  a!- 
lowiiii^  tlu'  lieavier  <x<)l(l  losiiik  t,(^llK'  hot  toiii,  where  it 
is  cauulit  and  held  hv  crossdjars  or  "ritHes.*' 

Althoiimh  ,i;old  has  ]»(  n  dise<»\-ered  at  iiiaii\'  points 
.iloii'j;  th(!  Viikoi  iiid  its  i»iaiiehes,  the  deposit  al  l''orty 
.Mil(!  is  the  ricJK  t  yet  worked,  and  has  paid  as  hii^h  as 
three  hundred  dollars  t(»  a  man  lor  a  sinu'le  day's  lahor. 
Twelve  thoiisaml  dollars' worth  <>(  i^old  was  cleared  hv 
one  miner  in  a  three  months'  season,  and  a  li\c  '  iin- 
dred-dollar  nn^Lfet  has  been  found;  but  most  of  the 
miners  are  content  if  tluy  can  make  ''ounce  w  ai^Ts," 
or  sixteen  dollars  per  day,  while  the  averai^^'  for  the 
camp  is  not  over  ei^lit  dollars  per  (hiy  duiing  tlic  short 
season  of  tltat  arctic  rcL^ion. 

Slnices  can  only  be  worked  diirins^  three  or  four 
montlis  of  sununer-t iine  ;  theti  come  the  tei'rililc  I'iLj'lit 
or  nine  months  of  winter  when  th(>  mercuiy  tliinks 
notlnn<4'  of  dro))pini:;  to  sixty  or  seventy  decrees  iielow 
zero,  and  the  whole  world  seems  made  of  ice.  Stran  "e 
as  it  may  ajjpear,  the  summer  Aveather  of  this  region  is 
very  hot,  oi^ht3'-live  de^rt'es  in  the  sliade  and  one  luin- 
dred  and  twelve  des^rees  in  tlic  sun  Ix'iuL,^  fre(juently 
readied  by  the  mercury.  During  tlio  summer  months, 
too, the  entire  Yukon  Valley  is  as  terribly  infested  with 
mos(jnitoes  as  is  any  mangrove  swamj)  of  tlie  tro])ics. 
Tims  the  hardy  miner  who  penetrates  it  in  his  search 
for  gold  is  made  to  sufifer  from  one  cause  or  another 
durin'j;  every  montli  of  thc!  year. 

In  spite  of  tlu;  summer  lieat  the  ground  never  thaws 
to  a  de])th  of  more  than  five  or  six  feet,  below  which 
it  is  solidly  fro/.eii  beyond  any  jioint  yet  reached  by 
diGfirincf.  I  nder  the  dense  covering'  of  moss,  six  to 
eighteen  inches  thick,  l)y  which  the  greater  j>;irt  of 
Alaska  is  overspread,  it  does  luit  thaw  more  than  a  f<'W 
inches,  ('onscfpiently  the  most  im})ortant  item  d"  .i 
Yukon    miner's   winter  work    is   tli(>    stri])]»inu-  <if   tli'.-i 


in« 


SNOW-SnOES    ANT)   SI.KDoES 


moss  from  liis  ^•laim  in  orilcr  that  next  summor's  sun 
may  liavc  a  chaiKrc  to  lliaw  it  t*>  workinn'  depth. 

Tlu'i't!  were  iH)  women  noi"  chiMrcii  at  I'\irty  ^Milc, 
and  there  were  vei-y  few  amusements,  hut  there  is 
]>lenty  ol"  iiard  work  in  both  summer,  when  the  sun 
liardiv  sets  at  all,  and  in  the  winter,  when  he  barely 
shows  his  face  al><>ve  tlie  .soutlu'rii  liori/on.  Besides 
tlie  laborious  task  of  nioss-strippint;,  tiu'  miner  must 
saw  out  by  haiul  all  lumber  for  sluices  and  rockers. 
He  must  build  liis  own  cabin  :ind  fashion  its  rude  fur- 
niture, Itesides  doiu!;'  all  of  his  own  house-work  and 
cookinu^.  He  also  ex|)ects  to  do  a  certain  amount  of 
lunitinii;  and  tra])})ing  duriiiLC  the  winter  months,  so 
that  his  time,  unless  he  l)e  very  lazy,  is  fully  o('cui)ied. 
JJiit  la/y  nien  are  not  a|)t  to  reach  l*\)rty  3lili',  for  tho 
journey  from  Juneau,  in  southern  iVlaska,  which  is  tho 
Jarjiest  city  in  tlie  Territor\',  as  well  as  the  nearest 
outtittinL?  i)oint  for  the  di,ni^inucs,  is  so  iilled  with  })eril 
and  the  rou<;hi'st  kind  of  hard  work  as  to  deter  any  but 
men  of  tlie  most  determined  energy. 

At  Juneau,  Yukon  travellers  ])rovide  tliomselves 
with  an  otitfit  of  snow-shoes,  sledij^es,  tcMits,  fur  elotli- 
ini;,  provisions,  and  whatever  else  seems  to  them  nec- 
essary. Startintjf  in  the  early  s))rinij^,  they  ])roceed  by 
boat  to  the  Chilkat  country,  seventy  miles  distant,  and 
to  the  head  of  C'hilkoot  Inlet.  From  there;  they  set  forth 
on  a  terrible  mountain  climb  over  snow'  many  feet  in 
de})th,  wlier(>  they  are  in  constant  danuci-  from  ava- 
bmches,  and  cross  the  coast  range  by  a  ])ass  that  rises 
three  thousand  feet  above  timber-line.  On  tlu*  o])po- 
site  side  they  strike  the  head-waters  of  the  Yidcon, 
^v]lich  tliey  follow  throiigli  a  series  of  six  lakes,  sledg- 
ing over  their  still  ice-bonnd  waters,  and  raftino;  down 
their  connecting  links,  in  which  are  seething  ra})ids, 
dark  gorges,  and  roaring  canons,  around  which  all 
coods  must  be  carried  on  men's  backs.     After  some 


A    VIKOX    .MIXrN(i    CAMI' 


139 


two  ImiKlrcd  iiiilcs  of  tlicsc  ditliciilt  ics  liavo  boon 
p.'isso<l,  troos  iiiusl  1)0  I'ollod,  luinljor  s.-iucd  out,  and 
boats  coiistnic'tofl  for  tlu;  ri'maiiiiiiL;-  livo  Iiundrod  inilos 
of  tlie  weary  joiinioy. 

As  it  woiilil  not  pay  to  traiisjtorl  froiLjIit  bv  this 
route,  all  ]»rovisioiis  and  t)thor  supplies  for  the  diL?- 
j,nii«i;s  are  shipped  from  San  T'l-ancisoo  by  sea  to  St. 
JNIiehaols,  wliero  they  are  transferred  to  small  river 
steamers  like  the  (lunnt^  and  so,  after  beini^  maiiv 
months  on  the  way,  linally  reach  thoir  destination.  l>y 
this  time  thoir  \alue  has  become  so  enhanced  or  "  en- 
fliantod,"  as  th<'  miners  say,  that  Phil  Kydor  found 
flour  selling-  for  Js^iO  per  barri-l,  bacon  at  ;),3  cents  ])or 
pound,  beans  at  2.5  cents  ))er  jxmnd,  canned  fruit  at  GO 
cents  per  pouml,  coarse  llannol  shirts  at  -ns  each,  rub- 
ber boots  at  ^IS  {)or  pair,  and  all  other  goods  at  ]»ro- 
portionate  rates.  Imou  sledn(.  dogs,  such  as  ho  jiad 
pundiased  at  Anvik  for  -s')  or  -so  each,  wore  here  valued 
at  >i;25  apiece. 

In  view  of  these  facts  it  is  no  wonder  that  tlu;  news 
of  another  steamer  on  the  river  bringing  a  saw-mill  to 
supply  them  with  luml)er,  machinery  with  which  to 
work  the  frozen  but  golddadon  earth  of  their  claims, 
.;nd  a  large  stock  of  goods  to  be  sold  at  about  onedialf 
tlie  ])revailing  prices,  created  a  very  ])leasant  excite- 
ment among  the  minors  of  that  Mide-awako  cam]). 

On  th(^  day  following  his  arrival,  and  after  a  cand'ul 
survey  of  the  situation,  l*hil  rotited  the  largest  build- 
ing in  the  place,  paying  one  month's  rent  in  advance, 
and  giving  its  owner  an  order  on  (ierald  1  lamer  for 
the  balance  until  the  time  of  the  Ckimo^s  arrival.  This 
building  had  been  used  as  a  saloon,  and  was  conven- 
iently located  close  by  the  steamboat-landii'g  facing 
the  river.  Into  it  the  sledge  ])arty  nu)vod  all  their  be- 
longings, including  the  seventeen  wolf-skins,  which  now 
formed  rugs  for  thoir  floor  as  well  as  coverings  for  sev- 


"EB 


HATSfntm 


P 


140 


s\ow-SH(>i:s  A\n  s!,ki)(;i:s 


:;i 


;fl 


m 


oral  split-log  Ix'iiclics.  Sci-gc  ;ii  d  tlic  two  rmliaiis  at 
<)ii('(i  startecl  ii|)  the  river  wit  li  the  slcijgcs  for  a  supply 
ol"  lircwood,  which  was  a  ])i'('ci()iis  aiiicK'  in  i'^orty  Mile 
at  that  time,  having'  Piiii  and  .lahip  Coonihs  to  clean 
the  ii(>w  (piarters  and  render  them  liaWit  ihle.  While 
th(^  latter,  with  a  saih)i-\s  neat  deftness,  attended  to 
this  work,  Phil  l)iisie(l  himself  wit  ji  a  pot.  of  Mack  paint 
and  a  long  breailth  of  c()tton  clotii.  A\  this  he  lahoi-ed 
with  such  diligence  liiat  in  an  hour's  time  a  huge  sign 
appeai'e(l  above  the  (ntrance  tu  thi'  hiiilding  and 
sti'etcheil  across  its  entire  fivuit.  On  it,  in  letters  so 
large  tliat  they  could  he  phainl\'  I'ead  iVom  the  i'i\ei", 
was  pninleil  the  legend,  '•  \' ukou  Trading  C'onijuMiy, 
(Jerahl  llamei-,  Ag('nt." 

This  jtroinise  of  increa-etl  husiiiess  facilities  was 
Cfreeted  bv  a  roniiil  of  he;ii'l\'  cheei's  from  a  <ii'oup  of 
miners  who  had  assembled  to  witness  the  raising  of 
lite  new  sign,  and  when  Jahip  Coombs  linished  tack- 
ing up  his  end  one  of  these  stepjied  up  to  him  with  a 
keen  scrutiny.  I'^inally  he  said,  '•Sti'anger,  may  I  be 
so  bold  as  to  ask  who  was  tlu'  best  friend  \ou  ever 
had?" 

"Sai'tain  yon  may,"  replied  the  sailoi'-nian,  "seeing 
as  I'm  allers  proud  to  mention  the  name  of  old  Kite 
Jloberson,  and  likewise  claim  him  for  a  friend.'" 

"I  thought  sol"  cried  the  delighted  nuner,  thrust- 
ing out  a  great  hairy  paw.  "1  thought  I  couhbTt  be 
mistook  in  that  llggei--liead,  and  I  kuowed  if  you  was 
the  same  old  Jalap  I  took  y  •  to  be  that  Kite  lvi»b- 
crson  wouhbri  be  fur  oil".  \\'h\',  niatew  don't  you  re- 
member thi' old  brig  I)<(si/,'  IIa\i'  vou  clean  forgot 
Skill"  IJi'ttensV" 

"Ilim  that  went  into  the  hold  arid  found  the  lli'e 
and  jiut  it  <uit,  and  was  diaig  up  so  nigh  dead  from 
smoke  that  he  didn't  breathe  nateral  agin  fur  a  week  V 
iS'ot    much    I  hain't   torgot.  him,  and   I'm  nigli  about  as 


mm 


I     « 


A    YUKON    MINING    CAMl* 


Ul 


glut]  to  SCO  liim  as  if  lie  were  oM  Ivite  liissell  !"  ex- 
claimed Jalap  Coombs,  in  joyous  tones.  Then  he  in- 
troduced Mr.  SkilE  JJettens,  ex-saih)r  and  now  Yukon 
miner,  to  Phil,  and  pulled  him  into  the  house,  and 
there  was  no  more  work  to  be  got  out  of  .Jalap 
Coombs  tliat  day. 

Phil  liad  also  been  recognized.  That  is,  Mr.  Piatt 
Riley  ]ia<l  asked  him  if  lie  were  the  son  of  Ids  father, 
and  when  Piiil  admitted  tlic  ivdationshij*,  told  lum  lliat 
li('  had  a  father  to  be  proud  of  every  nunute  of  his  life. 
Didn't  he  know?  f(»r  hadn't  he,  Piatt  Kiley,  worked 
side  by  side  witli  ^[r.  John  Ilyder  prospecting  in  Soutli 
Africa,  wiiere  every  ounce  of  grit  that  a  white  man  had 
in  him  was  Ijound  to  siiow  itself?  "To  l)c>  certain 
he  had,"  and  now  he  was  proud  to  shake  the  Jiand  of 
Jolni  Ryder's  son,  and  if  tliere  was  anything  John 
Ry«!-'r\s  son  wanted  in  that  camj),  why  he,  Piatt  Riley, 
wa.i  ihe  man  to  get  it  for  iiim. 

So  our  sledge  travellers  ft»und  tliat  even  in  that 
remote  mining  camp,  ])tiried  from  the  world  beneath 
the  snows  of  an  arctic  winter,  they  were  among  fi-iends. 
This,  coupled  with  all  that  they  had  undergone  in 
reachi)ig  it,  made  it  seem  to  them  a  very  [deasant  and 
comfortable  place  in  which  to  rest  awidle. 

And  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  stay  there  for 
a  time.  They  must  cultivate  friendly  business  rela- 
tions with  the  miners  on  Gerald  1  Tamer's  account,  and 
find  out  what  class  of  goods  were  most  in  <h'mand ; 
for  never  until  now  had  l?hil  reali/e(l  the  responsibility 
with  which  he  had  been  inti'iisted.  I[e  nu;st  pre)>;ir(' 
a  full  report  1o  send  l>a(ds:  by  Kurilla  and  Chitsah,  who 
could  iiot  Ix'  lempted  to  venture  any  farther  away 
from  their  homes.  The  dogs  must  V>e  well  rested  be- 
fore they  would  be  fitted  for  the  second  and  most  ditli- 
cult  lialf  of  the  long  journey.  Above  all,  Phil  felt 
that,  as  representative  of  the   Yukon  Trading  Com- 


T*^.!*:T'^.''X^\ 


142 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLKDGKS 


p.iTiy,  lio  must  bo  on  liaiid  to  inrct  tlic  a<j;(Mits  of  its 
ohl-cstablislied  rival,  and  dt'l'ciid  his  far-away  fi-jend 
from  the  false  re})orts  they  were  certain  to  ;i])rea(l  con- 
ceriiintj^  liiin. 

lie  wondered  wliy  Goldollar  and  S*.rengel  did  not 
a])|)ear,  and  dreaded  to  meet  them,  but  at  the  same 
time  lonu^ed  to  have  the  disagreeable;  encounter  over 
with  as  quickly  as  possible  So,  many  times  eacli  day 
did  he  ga/.e  long  and  iixeiHy  aci'oss  the  bi'oad  white 
])lain  of  the  Yukon.  At  length,  on  the  eighth  (hiy  after 
their  arrival  at  Forty  Mile,  his  eye  was  caught  by 
some  moving  black  dots  that  lie  felt  certain  must  be 
the  expected  sledges. 


CTIAPTEH  XX n 
THE    Xi:\V    AUKIVAl,    AT    FdUTV    AriLE 

The  man  known  ns  StrciiLC'  I  was  ]»!-ol)al)ly  as  o-roat 
a  I'ascal  as  could  hv  I'ouiid  in  all  .Maska,  His  sole 
object,  in  shi{)ping  al)()ar(l  the  stcainci-  Xor.-^/c  at  San 
Francisco  had  been  to  make  liis  way,  by  i'air  means  or 
foul,  to  the  Yukon  goM-iields,  of  wliich  lie  had  ^-ained 
e\trava<_rant  ideas.  On  the  nifjht  before  the  J^^or.^k  left 
St.  .Alichaels  he  stole  from  tlie  chests  of  several  of  his 
shipmates  such  small  sums  of  nioney  as  they  contained, 
slipped  into  a  canoe,  and  desert(Ml  the  ship.  lie  re- 
mained in  hiding  until  she  sailed,  and  then,  claimini:^ 
to  have  been  discharsjed  at  his  o\vn  re(|uest,  offered  his 
services  to  Gerald  1  lamer  in  exehange  for  a  passage  to 
Forty  Mile,  'i'liis  proposition  l)eing  accepted,  and 
Strengel  regularly  sliipped  as  one  of  the  Chihit/s 
crew,  he  made  a  secret  ])i'oposal  to  the  old  com|)any 
through  one  of  its  clerks,  who  happened  to  be  Sim«»n 
(loldollar,  to  so  delay  an<l  crij»ph^  Gerald  Ilamer's  ex- 
j)edition  that  lie  should  be  forced  to  aband<»n  it.  In 
attempting  to  carry  out  this  programme  he  was  foiled 
by  Phil  Ryder's  (piick  wit  and  prompt  actit^n. 

^Making  his  Avay  back  to  Si.  ]\Iirj)a(ds,  after  Phil  set 
him  ashore;  at  the  Pastolik  wood-yard,  Stremrel  fell  in 
with  Jalap  Goond>s,  and,  in  eom[)any  with  ^Joldollar, 
so  managed  the  money  aifairs  of  that  nnsus])ecting 
sailor  that  he  was  unwittingly  made  tt>  defray  all  their 
expenses  to  Forty  ]Mile,  though  he  otdy  expecte<l  to 
accompany  them  a  short  distance  uj)  the  river.     Stren- 


IJMliaiiMMilMIM^^^^^^    Illll 


141 


fSXoW-SllOKS    AND    Sl.KlHiKS 


I   '        * 


L^el's  sole  objt'ct  was  still  to  rcacli  tlic  p^old -fields, 
wiiilc  (roldollar  was  intent  on  winnini;-  a  rei)Utat ion 
Tor  hiniself  by  i'orestalling  (reraid  I  lamer  at  l'\)rty 
i\I.iIo,  and  at  tlu;  same  time  i?itlieting  what  injuiy  lio, 
i-nuld  on  Phil  liyder.  From  the  outset  they  agreed 
to  rid  themselves  of  Jala])  C'oombs  at  some  point  so 
far  U|)  the  river  that  he  must  necessarily  remain  where 
they  left  him  for  the  rest  of  the  winter.  They  learned 
at  Nulato  that  the  Chuno  was  frozen  in  at  .Vnvik,  but 
l(M)k  care  that  this  information  should  not  reach  Jalap 
Coombs,  whom  the}'  soon  afterwards  so  cruelly  de- 
serted. 

As  they  travelle(l  beyond  the  point  where  they  left 
him,  the  well-niate»l  paii*  had  such  frequent  and  bitt(}r 
quarrels  tliat,  when  Simon  (iohlollar  fell  seriously  ill, 
Streuircd  did  not  hesitates  to  rob  him  of  what  money  he 
carried  and  dissert  him  at  a  native  village  near  the 
abandoned  tradinjjj-post  of  Fort  Yukon.  Jjcfore  do- 
ing this  he  discharged  the  Indians  who  had  come  with 
them  from  Nidato,  and  sent  tliem  bacdc,  telling  them 
'hat  he  should  remain  with  his  sick  friend  unlil  lu!  re- 
covered or  died.  .Vs  soon  as  they  were  gone  he  en- 
gaged other  nati\'es,  and  set  out  for  the  diggings  that 
had  for  so  long  been  the  goal  of  his  (h'sires. 

lie  planned  to  entei'  Forty  31  lie  uiKh'r  a  new  name, 
and  as  a  traveller  from  one  of  the  interior  Hudson 
Iiay  trading-posts,  who  was  ignorant  of  the  lower  Yu 
kon,  its  peojile,  and  its  liapiienings.  II(?  Avas  conlident 
(hat  Jalap  Coombs  would  ne\-er  apjtenr  to  contradict 
iiim,  Muil  almost  ecjunlly  certain  that  Simon  (b)hh>llar 
would  never  reach  l^'orty  ^lile.  If  by  a  miracle  he 
should  r(>cover  from  his  illness,  lu'  was  helpless  to  con- 
tinue his  journey  before  tlu-  boals  came  np  in  the  sum- 
mer, by  M'hieh  time  the  man  who  had  robbed  and  de- 
serted him  would  be  hist  to  sight  amid  the  season's 
rush  of  prospectors.     In  the  meantime  lu;  had  plenty 


THE  m:w  aruival  a'i'  fokiv  milk 


l-to 


of  mojiGV  to  live  on  until  he  should  meet  with  an  op- 
portunity Cor  ninkini:^  a  sti'ike  of  soine  kind. 

'I'hus  it  was  that  on  a  pleasant  day  of  late  January 
Mr.  Strengel  approached  tiie  mining  eanij)  of  Forty  ."Mile, 
riding  comfortably  in  Jalap  Coombs's  own  sledge,  with 
a  light  heart  and  no  intimation  of  aught  but  an  agree- 
able reception  by  its  citizens.  ]>ut  in  all  his  caret'uUy- 
worked-out  })lans  he  had  made  several  miscalculati(nis. 

It  had  never  occurred  to  him  that  there  was  any 
other  j'oute  than  tiui  one  he  had  folhnved  by  which 
this  ]H)int  might  be  reached  fi'om  the  lower  river. 
Nor  did  he  believe  it  possible  that  any  word  ot"  (ler- 
ald  Hauler's  expedition  could  have  come  up  the  rivt'r 
unkn()wn  to  him,  J-'inally,  his  gi'avest  mistake  lay  in 
supposing  the  j)opulation  of  this  cam[>  to  be  of  the 
same  lawless  class  as  is  to  be  found  in  most  Western 
mining  camps,  and  believing  that  here  he  should  meet 
only  "with  as  great  rascals  as  himself.  In  this  he  dis- 
played great  ignorance  of  Forty  Mile,  which  was 
wholly  in  the  hands  of  honorable  old-time  miners, 
who  had  franuul  a  simple  set  of  laws  for  the  regula- 
tion of  their  isolated  little  community  that  they  were 
determined  shoidd  be  respected.  They  had  chosen 
one  of  their  own  inimber  as  judg(\  and  from  his  de- 
cisions they  allowed  no  ajipeal.  They  had  also  elected 
a  marshal,  whom  they  loyally  assist t'(l  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  Several  lawless  characters  had  already 
been  driven  from  the  cam}),  and  many  others  warned 
not  to  venture  within  its  limits. 

As  Forty  Mile  had  received  warning  of  the  expected 
coming  of  (xoldoUar  and  Strengel,  and  had  learned 
many  interesting  things  concerning  the  previous  his- 
tory  of   these    irentlemen,   their    arrival    was    eagerly 

m.  I*  7  r^  ft 

anticipated.  Thus,  upon  I'hil  IJydcr's  aniu)uncemeiit 
that  sledges  wen;  coming  up  the  ri\i'i',  an  expectant 
throng  was  (piickly  gathered  at  the  landing. 


10 


J  hi 


SNOW-SHOES    AM)    SI.KIUiKS 


Mr.  Stroiiujc'l  lii-od  sovonil  sliots  from  liis  riHc  as  Ik; 
(liM'W  near,  and  was  surpriscMl  that  Jiis  salute;  was  not 
answered  in  kind.  He  was,  of  eourse,  j^ratitied  to  o1)- 
sorve  the  sensation  that  liis  approaeli  was  creating',  and 
undertoolv  to  arouse  some  enthusiasm  amonijf  the  silent 
sjx'ctators  by  ytdling,  "Hurrah  for  FoUy  ]M.ile  !  Hur- 
rah for  the  disjcgiuL^s  !  Hurrah  for  our  side  I"  Then, 
as  liis  sledge  reached  the  hank  and  in-  spi'ant^  out,  he 
crie<l,in  tones  meant  to  eonvev  heart  \'  u'ood-fellowshii) : 

"How  ai'e  you,  hoys?  You  het  I'm  mi<^hty  i^lad 
to  see  white  men  again  after  tamping  with  a  lot  of 
lowdived  Injuns  for  more  than  two  months.  \\)\\  see, 
Tve  just  come  down  fi-om  Pierre's  House  on  the  J*or- 
cuj)ine.     ]My  name's  IJi-adwiek,  and — " 

Here  tliG  s])eaker's  lluent  woi'ds  seenuid  suddeidy  to 
fail  him,  l)is  face  turned  pale,  and  his  eyes  Avere  iixeil 
in  a  bewildered  stare.  He  had  cauifht  siijht  of  the 
Yukon  'I'rading  Com])any's  sign. 

"Ha,  ha!"  he  laughed,  recovering  himself  with  an 
elTort.  "  Seeing"  the  name  of  an  old  frituid  wlio's  long 
since  dead  kinder  give  me  a  turn.  Hut,  as  I  was  say- 
ing — 

"Yes,  you  were  just  about  to  tell  us  wliat  Inid  be- 
come of  Goldollar,"  interru])ted  Mr,  Piatt  Riley,  who 
had  received  word  from  ]*hil  that  the  new-comer  was 
Strengel. 

"  (Joldollar  I"  stammered  the  stranger,  at  the  same 
time  starting  as  though  he  had  been  shot,  "(Joldol- 
lar I"  he  repeated,  reHectively  ;  "I  don't  know  the 
name  ;  never  heard  it  before  in  my  life.  I  think  I 
mentioned  that  I'd  just  c;ome  down  from  Pierre's  House 
on  the  Porcu])ine,  ami  hadn't  seen  a  "white  man  since 
leaving  there.  '^Phere  wasn't  no  one  of  that  name  at 
Picn-e's  House  when  F  left.  \\'hat  do  yon  meiin':'  Who 
is  Goldollar,  anyhow'::'" 

"He's  a  feller  that  we  heard  was  coming  up  from  be- 


TiiK   xi:\v   ai:ki\ai.  \t  koimv    milk 


1  r 


l.lol- 

the 

Ilk  I 


low  Willi  ;i  <l<>g  tr:iiii,"  replied  .Afr.  Iviley,  delibei-ately, 
at  the  siiiiie  time  ga/iiiLC  lull  in  Streiiijfi'rs  t'aee.  "And 
we  didn't  know  Imt  what  xoii  and  liiin  nii<j;iit  have  met 
iij)  and  concluded  to  travel  together/' 

"How  could  you  hear  of  him'::'"  in<|uire(l  the  iiow- 
comer.  ''  I  didn't  know  there  was  any  way  i'or  news 
to  roach  I'^orty  3Iile  in  tlu'  winter." 

"Oh,  we  might  have  heard  by  mail,  or  teh'gra|ilK 
or  seen  il  in  the  daily  jiapers,  or  a  do/i'ii  otlier  \\ays. 
Anyhow,  we  did  hear  it,  and  that  another  I'eller  was 
along  with  him.  So  ol'  course  when  we  saw  you  com- 
iilg  up  the  ii\  CI- — " 

"You  didn't  lu'ar  tiiat  the  other  I'ellow's  name  was 
Bradwick,  did  you  ?"''  interrupted  the  stranger. 

"No,  that  wasn't  the  name.  It  wasn't  so  good  a 
name  as  that." 

"  \Vell,  then,  you  didn't  hear  that  I  was  coming  with 
him  ;  for  Dradwick's  my  name,  and  I  don't  know  iioth- 
iii'''  about  anv  Goldollars,  tiioULrh  I  hone  to  find  out 
sonu'thing  alxMit  them  riglit  hei'c^  in  these  diggings," 
rej)lied  Mr.  Strengel,  boldly,  and  with  attempted  jocu- 
larity. "Now,  seeing  that  I'm  tired,  and  cold,  and 
hungry,''  he  added,  ".sup|)osing  we  adjourn  to  some 
])lace  that's  warmer  than  out  here  in  the  snow,  and 
bettei'  suited  for  making  acMpiaintanees." 

"All  right,"  re[)lied  .Air.  Piatt  lliley,  who,  jjossessod 
of  a  keen  sense  of  humoi',  was  dispost'd  to  prolong  the 
farce  that  promised  so  much  entertainment,  "  We 
don't  know  much  about  Goldollars  ourselves,  but  wc  '11 
try  and  teach  you  all  we  do  know,  and  a!  the  same 
time  put  you  in  the  way  of  meeting  ac(|uaintances. 
As  you  say,  though,  this  is  a  cold  place  for  t  dking, 
so  I  supi)ose  you  might  as  W(;ll  come  up  to  my  select 
family  boarding-house  for  the  night,  seeing  as  it  ain't 
over^i'owded  just  at  prest'iit.  'riieii  in  tlu'  morning 
we'll  look  round  for  a  place  that  '11  jsuit  you  better." 


mmmm 


148 


SN(>\V->lli»i;s    AND    SLKDGKS 


So  lli('  iirw'-f'oiiier  walkcMl  away  with  ^\v.  I'lalt  Riloy, 
while  tlic  spectators ol'  this  iiiterc'stiiiL^  iiiei't  iiiLjj  chuekhHl 
and  winked  significantly,  jioked  each  otlu-r  in  the  rihs, 
and  remarked  : 

"Ain't  the  jcdij^e  a  lioney-cooh-r,  though?  lie  ain't 
the  kind  tliat  Ml  hatiL?  a  man  lirst  and  try  him  al'ler- 
wai'ds.  Not  much  ;  tliat  ain't  ids  stylo.  Fair  ])lay's 
his  mott.er,  and  tui'ii  tlie  I'ascals  out  every  time." 

It  is  necflh'ss  to  say  that  diirinL?  the  interview  just 
desci-ilxMl  IMiil,  Sern'e,  and  Jalap  kept  themselvi's  out 
of  siylit  ;  nor  liad  any  one  let  I'all  an  intimation  ot" 
their  presence  in  the  camp. 

All  th:it  evenini.:;  a  constant  stream  of  visitors  flowed 
in  and  out  of  .Mr.  I'latt  Riley's  cahin.  Each  wore  an 
expression  of  expectancy  and  su]>)>ressed  mirth,  and 
each  l)owe(l  !.;'ra\ely,  without  trustinif  himself  to  speak, 
when  introduced  to  3Ir.  "Hradwick."  It  was  also  to 
1)(!  noticed  that  none  of  them  shook  hands  with  him. 
W^lieu  he  com[)lained  of  this  to  his  host  he  was  gravely 
informed  that  hand-shaking  was  not  one  of  the  customs 
of  the  camp.  All  the  visitors  listened  with  great  in- 
terest to  his  glil)  talk  of  the  Poivupine  and  of  other 
regions  to  the  eastwai-d,  while  some  c^ven  went  so  far 
as  to  ex})ress  I'cgret  that  he  had  not  met  their  friend 
Goldollar. 

lie  always  turned  the  conversation  at  this  point; 
nor  did  he  again  refer  to  the  namc!  of  his  dead  friend 
that  had  confronted  him  on  the  sign  of  the  Yukon 
Trading  Com])any.  At  the  same  time  it  caused  him  a 
great  deal  of  uneasiness,  and  led  him  to  thiidv  seriously 
of  shorterdng  his  stay  in  the  (^amp  to  a  single  night. 

When  he,  in  turn,  iiKjuired  about  the  j)rospects  of 
the  diggings,  and  learned  that  most  claims  had  to  be 
sti'ip])ed  of  frozen  moss  and  thawed  out  before  they 
(!Ould  be  worked,  he  declared  that  h(;'d  see  the  whole 
country  and  its  gold  in  Jericho  befoie  he'd  strip  moss. 


TFJK    .\i;\V     AKklVAI,    AT     loK'TV     MII.I-: 


i  ll» 


which  lio  (U'liouneed  as  work  only  lit  I'oi-  "Injuns"  and 
convicts. 

On  tlic  wliole,  liis  impressions  of  ('amp  J'\)rtv  .Mih- 
wore  s(^  unpleasant  that  he  Cully  determined  to  not  his 
doo-  teams  in  motion  the  very  next  day,  and  ].u.sh  on 
farther  up  the  river.  It  was  only  up(ui  the  nrocnt  re- 
(piest  of  Mr.  l?latt  Ililey  tiiat  he  consented  to  delay  his 
de|)arture  long  enough  to  attend  a  public  meeting  of 
the  greatest  interest  to  all  Yukon  miners,  that  wiUi  to 
be  held  the  lirst  thing  in  the  niorninf^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


JM 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  bTRC: 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


f/j 


[rnr^ 


U\: 


CHAPTER   XXIII 


LAW    TX    THE    COLD    DTGGTXGS 


I  I' 


t<   1 


I  I 


■  ■  I 


The  latest  comer  to  Camp  Forty  3Iilo  was  not  par- 
ticularly anxious  to  attend  tlu;  })ul)lic  meetino-  to  which 
he  was  invited  by  Mr.  Phitt  ]iiley.  Still  he  thought  it 
better  to  do  so  rather  than  run  the  risk  of  olfendincr 
liis  host,  Mdio  was  evidently  a  man  of  influence  in  the 
diggings.  His  overnight  ictlcctions  having  convinced 
him  that  this  camp  was  r.ot  such  a  place  as  }\v  had  ex- 
pected, and  also  that  he  might  lind  greater  safety  else- 
where, his  first  act  in  the  morning  was  to  order  liis 
Indian  drivers  to  harness  the  dogs  and  be  i)reparcd  for 
a  start  within  a-  liour. 

Kurilla,  \vho  was  with  them  under  instruclions  not 
to  lose  sight  of  them,  grinned  when  he  heard  this,  for 
he  had  picked  up  an  iidvling  of  what  was  going  on, 
and  felt  pretty  cc^rtain  that  the  order  need  not  bo 
obeyed. 

When  Mr.  Riley's  reluctant  guest  entered  the  store 
of  the  Yukon  Trading  Com])any,  in  which,  on  account 
of  its  size,  the  meeting  was  to  be  held,  he  fully  intend- 
ed to  take  a  bacik  scat  and  slip  out  as  soon  as  he  could 
do  so  unnoticed.  The  place  was  so  filled  with  miners, 
however,  that  there  were  no  back  scats,  and,  to  his 
sur})rise,  the  crowd  pressed  aside  as  he  and  Mr.  Riley 
entered,  so  as  to  leave  a  passage  to  the  farther  end  of 
the  room.  A  moment  later,  without  knowing  just  how 
it  liad  been  done,  he  found  himself  seated  beside  Jalap 
Coombs's  friend,  SkilT  llettens,  who  obligingly  made  a 


T.AW  IN  TiiK  r.oi.D  DUi(;r.\(;s 


l,")! 


place  for  liim.  He  noticed,  with  some  ciiriositj',  that 
twelve  iiK'ii  wore  seated  on  benches  directlv  ()i>i)osito 
to  him,  wliile  all  the  rest  of  the  crowd  Avere  standing. 
JJetween  him  and  these  men  was  an  open  space,  at  the 
npper  end  of  wliich  were  a  table  and  a  chair  raised  on 
a  rude  platform. 

To  this  platform  iMr.  Piatt  Riley  made  his  wav,  and 
seating-  himself  in  the  chair,  rapped  on  the  table  for 
silence.     Then  rising,  he  said  . 

"(rentlemen  of  the  jury  and  fellow-citizens, — This 
court  is  now  open  for  business,  and  I  as  its  judge,  elect- 
ed by  your  votes,  am  prepared  to  administer  justice  in 
accordance  with  your  laws  and  such  verdicts  as  may 
be  rendered  by  your  jury," 

"  It  is  a  court,''  thought  Strengel,  witli  a  shiver. 

"The  case  to  be  tried  this  morning,"  continued  the 
judge,  "is  one  that  touches  the  pocket,  the  life,  and 
the  honor  of  every  miner  in  tlie  Yukon  Valley,  for  tlie 
prisoner  at  the  bar  is  indicted  on  three  sej>arate  counts 
as  a  thief,  a  murderer,  and  an  ninnitigated  scoundrel. 
He  lias  come  into  our  camp  under  a  false  name  and  with 
a  false  story,  after  having  attempted  the  destruction  of 
a  steamer  that  is  bringing  goods  and  machinery  of 
which  we  are  greatly  in  need. 

"lie  is  charged  with  robbing  and  leaving  liel])lessin 
the  wilderness  a  man  whom  we  all  know  and  respect, 
and  also  with  robbing  and  deserting  while  seriously  ill 
his  own  companion,  who  was  on  liis  way  to  visit  us  in 
behalf  of  our  old-established  trading  company." 

Strengel  listened  to  these  terrible  words  with  an 
ever-increasing  paleness  and  visible  agitation.  Finallv, 
clapping  a  hand  to  his  face,  as  though  seized  with  a 
sudden  illness,  lie  started  to  rise  and  leave  the  room. 

"Sit  down,"  ordered  SkilF  IJettens  in  a  low  tone,  at 
tlie  same  time  jerking  him  back  to  his  seat.  Then  the 
man  knew  that  he  was  indeed  a  prisoner. 


152 


S.VOW-SfloKS    AND    SLEDGKS 


ii:! 


i  li 


|!fl  < 


"To  ]irovc  these  serious  charges,"  coiUinucil  the 
judge,  "  I  ;uu  about  to  call  several  witiu'sses.  At  the 
same  time  the  prisoner  will  be  given  tiic  privik'ge  of 
cross-<]uestioning  them,  and  oi"  pleading  in  his  own  be- 
half.    Mr.  Philip  IJyder." 

At  this  summons  Piiil  advanced  from  the  farther  end 
of  the  room,  and  the  pris(»ner  regarded  him  with  un- 
disguised amazement. 

After  answering  the  usual  (juestions  regarding  his 
personality  and  businesSj  Phil  was  asked  if  he  knew 
the  prisoner. 

"  I  do,"  he  answered. 

"What  is  his  name?" 

"  I  understand  that  he  now  calls  himself  I»rad\vick, 
but  a  few  months  ago  he  went  by  the  m;,me  of  Strcn- 
gel." 

"That's  a  lie!"  shouted  the  j)risoner,  hoarsely. 

^'Silence  I"  commanded  tlu;  judge.  "Now  Mr. 
Ryder,  tell  the  jury  what  you  know  coiuierning  the  ac- 
cused from  the  time  of  your  first  meeting  with  him  up 
to  the  present." 

This  Phil  did  as  briefly  as  possibl(>,  and  when  he  had 
finished  the  ])risoner  sprang  to  his  feet,  liis  faci;  black 
with  rage,  and  exclaimed:  "  Whv  should  this  fellow's 
story  be  believed  rather  than  mine?  Who  knows  any- 
thing about  him,  or  even  who  he  is?  lie  was  i)icked 
up  in  Uei'ing  Sea,  drifting  al)out  in  a  stolen  canoe.  At 
St.  ^Michaels  he  was  known  as  a  thief  and  a  l)rawler.  I 
ha})pen  to  know  that  ho  has  been  locked  up  in  a  Vic- 
toria ])ol ice-station,  and  I  demand  that  his  evidence  be 
thrown  out." 

"That  will  do,  sir,"  said  the  judge.  "T  hap)>eii  to 
know  this  young  man  and  his  family  so  well  that  I  am 
willing  to  vouch  for  him  if  necessarv.  Do  vou  wish 
to  (pjestion  him?  No?  Then  we  will  proceed.  M\: 
Serge  IJelcofsky." 


X. 


:u' 


> 

> 

r 


C 
c 

O 

es 


O 

►■ 

93 

r 


}:■. 


Bi   ' 


Rl    ' 


n\' 


r,AW    IN   THE    GOLD    DIGGINGS 


1  53 


Serge,  of  course,  idontiiieil  the  j)risoncr  as  Strenujel, 
and  c'orrobor:ite(l  PhiTs  story  in  every  detail. 

"This  ends  tiie  testimony  on  the  first  charge,"  an- 
nounced the  judge  when  Serge  had  iinished,  and  th(^ 
])risoner  sullenly  <leclined  to  (juestion  liim.  "In  ])r()of 
of  the  second  charge,  that  of  robbery  and  desertion,  I 
call  as  witness  Mr.  Jalap  Coombs." 

As  the  ex-mate  of  the  *Se^</y<c'(/' advanced  to  the  stand 
the  prisoner  stared  at  him  as  though  he  were  a  gliost, 
nor  could  lio  imagine  by  what  miracle  this  witness 
liad  readied  Forty  Mile  in  time  to  appear  against 
him. 

Jala})  Coombs  told  his  story  in  his  own  j»ictures({ue 
language,  but  in  a  ])erfectly  straightforward  manner, 
and  without  tlie  slightest  liesitation. 

AV^hen  he  finished,  the  judge  questioned  him  very 
closely  as  to  the  amount  of  money  given  liim  by  Mr. 
John  liyder,  and  the  ])rices  paid  for  various  articles  of 
bis  outfit  at  St.  Alichaels. 

As  a  defence  against  this  charge  the  prisoner  claimed 
that  Jalap  Coombs  liad  not  been  deserted  by  Simon 
Goldollar  and  himself,  but  had  voluntarily  turned  back, 
and  that  the  doiirs  tliev  had  left  with  him  had  run  away 
to  follow  them  much  against  their  wishes.  lie  also 
stated  that  they  had  taken  the  dogs  and  sledge  back 
to  the  })lace  where  they  last  saw  Jalap  Coomb^s,  but 
that  tliey  could  not  find  him. 

"They  were  not  his  dogs,  anyway,  judge,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  nor  did  he  furnish  any  of  our  outfit  except  a 
few  provisions,  most  of  which  he  traded  to  the  Indians 
on  his  own  account.  This  man  Coombs  was  a  sailor, 
sup[)osed  to  1)0  a  deserter  from  some  slii]),  and  was 
loafing  around  St.  Michaels  half  starved  when  we  picked 
him  up.  lie  claimed  to  have  some  friends  on  the  river 
who  would  liel}»  him,  and  so  we  brought  him  along  out 
of  charity." 


If 


J:  !' 

I';  ' 


I: 


!'!  f    • 


w  ' 


}  ,P 
I'     ■*• 


I,  I 


i'   )! 


)■■  5 


m  m 


■  i 


wr 


iil  \\: 


\m 


r 

U 

I 

i 

MM 

ii 

1  54 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLEDGES 


<( 


AFay  I  toot  a  lioni,  jodge?"  asked  Mr.  Skiff  IJettens, 
risini^  as  tlio  p  is'Micr  concluded  liis  remarks. 

''Certainly  you  may,  marshal." 

"  Waal,  I  only  wauled  to  say  that  I've  knowed  Mr. 
Jalaj)  Coombs  off  and  on  for  a  t^ood  many  years,  and 
in  all  that  time  I've  never  knowed  him  to  tell  a  lie  nor 
yet  do  a  mean  thino^.  ]\[()reover,  I'm  willini^  to  stake 
my  ))ile  on  liis  honesty  agin  that  of  any  living  man, 
for  a  better  sailor,  a  squarer  man,  and  a  truer  friend 
never  trod  a  deck." 

This  sincere  tribute  so  affected  the  simple-iiearted 
sailor-man  that  he  could  only  stare  op(Mi-niouthcd  at 
the  speaker,  as  though  he  were  talking  in  some  myste- 
rious IanG:uan:e,  though  in  after-vears  lie  often  referred 
to  this  as  the  j^roudest  moment  of  his  life.  The  remain- 
der of  the  audience  greeted  the  marshal's  little  speech 
with  an  outburst  of  applause,  wliich  the  judge  was  final- 
ly obliged  to  check. 

"Letting  charge  number  two  rest  with  tlie  testi- 
mony taken,"  said  the  judge,  when  quiet  was  restored, 
''  we  will  take  up  charge  number  three,  whicli  is  tlic 
most  serious  of  all.  We  have  already  learned  that  the 
accused,  under  the  name  of  Strengel,  passed  old  Fort 
Adams  about  a  month  ago,  bound  for  this  place  in 
company  with  a  man  named  Goldollar,  who  appears  to 
be  a  jjretty  tough  character  himself,  though  that  of 
course  has  nothing  to  do  with  this  case.  The  accused 
at  that  time  had  little  or  nothing  of  his  own,  either  in 
the  way  of  money  or  outfit,  while  Goldollar  appears  to 
have  been  well  fixed  with  both.  Now  this  man  turns  up 
in  this  place  alone  under  the  name  of  Brad  wick,  telling 
a  story  about  having  come  from  uj)  the  Porcu])ine  that  he 
has  since  admitted  to  be  false,  and  in  possession  of  the 
outfit  formerly  owned  by  jNIr.Coombs  and  Simon  Goldol- 
lar. Of  course,  under  the  circumstances,  the  question 
naturally  to  be  asked  is,  what  has  become  of  Goldollar?" 


LAW    IN    THE    GOLD   DIGGINGS 


1  T)  5 


Mr, 


"  lit'  i^ot  sick  of  tlio  trip  and  turned  back  from  Yu- 
kon," explained  the  prisoner,  sulkily. 

"  Yes,  Ave've  lieard  lie  took  sick,''  replied  tlie  judge; 
"but  whether  ho  turned  back  or  was  left  to  die  in  an 
Indian  ranchcria  is  another  question.  Mr.  Coombs, 
will  you  please  take  the  stand  again?" 

This  time  Jalap  Coombs  testified  that  he  had  care- 
fully  examined  the  outfit  brought  into  camp  the  night 
before  by  the  ]  "isoner,  and  found  it  to  contain  the 
same  number  of  sledges,  the  same  number  of  dogs,  and 
the  identical  articles,  with  the  exception  of  a  certain 
quantity  of  provisions,  that  liad  composed  it  at  old  Fori 
Adams, 

"  AVe  will  now  call  on  one  other  witness,"  annoimced 
the  judge,  and  the  prisoner  started  as  though  he  ex- 
pected to  see  Simon  Goldollar  himself  a})})ear  on  the 
stand.  ^Vhat  he  did  see  was  one  of  his  own  native 
drivers  from  Fort  Yukon,  with  Kurilla  to  act  as  inter- 
preter. 

"Do  you  admit  Injun  testimony  in  this  court?"  he 
asked,  disgustedly. 

"Certainly  we  do,"  replied  the  judge. 

"If  I'd  known  that,"  he  muttered,  "I'd  have 
bought  a  dozen  or  so  to  testify  on  my  side." 

The  Indian's  testimony  was  to  the  effect  that  this 
white  man  had  left  another  white  man  in  a  native  hut 
at  Fort  Yukon  so  sick  that  all  the  Indians  thought  lio 
would  die. 

"Of  course  I  can't  buck  agin  Injun  testimony," 
growled  the  prisoner;  "  but  I  say  it's  a  lie,  all  the  same, 
and  (bin't  prove  nothing." 

"  There  is  one  thing  that  we  must  not  neglect,"  said 
the  judge.     "  Marshall,  you  may  search  the  prisoner." 

The  latter  struggled  furiously,  but  was  overpowered 
and  held  by  strong  hands  while  the  marshall  searched 
his  pockets.     From  these  were  produced  a  number  of 


•! 


i    't 


loG 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLEDGES 


Inl'i'         ! 


articles,  iiicliuiing  a  wallet,  which  the  judo^o  opened, 
si)rea(liiii^  its  contents  on  the  tahle  before  him. 

"Do  you  recognize  anything  here?"  he  asked  of 
Jalap  Coombs. 

"I  can  identify  this  as  having  been  in  Goldollar's 
possession,"  answered  the  mate,  picking  up  one  of  the 
articles  that  had  dropped  from  the  wallet,  and  holding 
it  so  that  all  might  see. 

Both  Phil  and  Ser^^e  uttered  exclamations  of  amaze- 
ment,  for  the  object  thus  exhibited  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  the  mysteriously  carved  and  almost  for- 
gotten fur-seal's  tooth  that  had  already  exerted  so 
great  an  inlluence  upon  their  fortunes. 


W'u 


|)Ji  t»    '     M 


CHAPTER    XXIV 
REAPPEAilAXCE    OF    TIIK    FUII-KKAI/S    TOOTH 

"What  do  you  know  about  tliis  tiling?"  asked  tlio 
judge  of  Jalap  Coombs,  taking  the  fpv- seal's  tootli 
from  him  and  examining  it  curiously. 

"I  know  that  there  were  an  old  Eskimo  at  St.  Mi- 
chaels what  were  shipped  by  Goldollar  to  go  with  us 
to  Nulato  as  dog-driver.  ]Ie  wore  this  bit  of  ivory 
Ining  about  his  neck,  and  seemed  to  set  a  luap  by  it. 
One  time  wl»en  he  were  looking  at  it  I  heerd  Goldollar 
say  tliat  by  rights  it  belonged  to  him,  seeing  as  he  got 
it  from  some  natyve,  and  it  were  afterwards  stole  from 
him.  lie  didn't  say  nothing  to  the  Husky  about  it, 
but  when  we  got  to  Nulato  he  give  him  so  much  licpior 
that  in  the  morning  the  old  chap  couldn't  bo  woke  up. 
Goldollar  fooled  round  him  a  while,  and  then  saying 
he'd  liave  to  give  up  the  job  of  waking  him,  left  iiim, 
and  ordered  the  teams  to  ])ull  out.  I  afterwards  seen 
Goldollar  take  that  very  identical  tooth  outen  his  ])0('k- 
et  several  times  and  look  at  it  like  it  were  a  diamond 
or  some  sich,  and  heerd  him  tell  Strengel  that  any  man 
as  owned  it  would  surely  have  luck.  It  didn't  seem  to 
])ring  him  none,  though.  Leastways  no  good  luck,  for 
he  hain't  had  nothing  but  bad  luck  sence." 

"  Was  it  your  impression  that  you  could  win  good 
luck  by  stealing  this  tooth  ?"  inquired  the  judge  of 
Strengel. 

"I  didn't  steal  it,"  answered  the  prisoner,  sullenly. 

"  How  did  you  get  it,  then  V" 


:l 


r 


^T" 


15H 


SNOW-SlloKS    AM)    SLKIXiKS 


I  :^ 


''  )l 


h   ^: 


.1 


if  I 


*•  (liililoll.'ir  give  it,  to  inc.'" 

"When;  did  yon  k-ave  (loldoliar?" 

"At  Fort  Yukon." 

"  Was  he  in  i^oo<l  lioalth  wlicii  yon  last  saw  him?" 

"I  refuse  to  answer  any  mort;  ((Uestions,"  replied  the 
prisoner,  suddenly  reali/inLC  how  deeply  he  was  comniit- 
tini^  himself. 

"Very  well,"  said  the  juduje.  "I  think  you  have 
already  told  enough  to  ujive  us  a  pretty  fair  idea  of  tlio 
partieular  kind  of  a  seoundrel  you  are.  So,  if  you 
liave  nothin<_;  more  to  sav,  1  declare  this  case  closed 
and  in  the  hands  of  the  jury.  (Tcntlemcn,  the  court 
awaits  your  verdict." 

As  there;  Avas  no  room  to  which  the  jury  could  retire, 
they  )>ut  their  iieads  toi^ether  and  consulted  in  whis- 
pers, during  which  time  Phil  told  the  judge  what  he 
knew  about  the  fur-seal's  tooth,  togetlier  with  the  le- 
gend of  good  and  ba<l  luek  supposed  to  aceonn)any  its 
j)Ossession.  The  spectators  of  the  trial  buzzed  like  a 
swarm  of  angry  hornets,  and  cast  wrathful  glances  at 
the  j)risoner  who  had  just  been  proved  so  worthy  of 
their  contemj>t. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  jury  ended  their  conference 
and  resumed  their  places.  Then,  as  order  was  restored, 
the  foreman,  stan<ling  \\\),  announced  that  they  were 
unanimous  in  linding  the  prisoner  guilty  on  all  three  of 
the  charges  preferred  against  him,  and  recommended 
that  he  be  so  punished  as  to  afford  a  warning  to  others 
of  his  kind  who  might  be  contem^ilating  a  visit  to  tho 
Yukon  diggings. 

"Hang  him  !"  cried  some  one  in  the  crowd. 

"Shoot  him  !"  shouted  another. 

"Drive  liim  out  of  camp,  and  set  him  adrift  like  be 
done  to  Jala])  Coombs,"  suggested  a  third. 

"Silence!"  roared  Judge  Piatt  lliley,  standing  in 
his  place  and  gazing  sternly  about  him.     "Y'^ou  for- 


.:        1 


UKAIM'KAUAXCE    OF"   Tlfi;    IfK-SKAl/s    Tooril        1.*)!) 


•i" 


Tonoo 
toreil, 

Avorc 
iroe  of 

■ndcd 
others 
to  llic 


c;('l,  gCMitlcnicii,  that  this  is  :i  courl  of  hiw,  ;unl  ihoiiijjh 
iiiavhc  it  isn't  run  with  all  ihu  frills  of  soiiu',  it's 
])oiin(l  to  he  rc'S|)e(3tcMl.  l/ikouisc,  it  jiroposcs  to  ])r'- 
noiwico  its  own  clcoisioiis.  In  rciujanl  to  the  jtrisoniT 
now  await iiii^  sentenci',  ]\v  has  l)i't'n  provt-cl  Uy  the  tcs- 
tiniony  of  rcjuitahlo  witnt'sses,  and  l)y  his  own  admis- 
sions, to  bo  a  liar,  a  traitoi',  a  doc^-stcalcr,  which  in  this 
country  is  tho  saino  as  a  hoss-thicf  in  the  States,  and 
a  robber  of  his  travcllinLj  companion  under  circuni- 
stances  that  make  him  at  the  same  time  come  j»rctty 
near  to  beini;  a  murderer.  I''or  studi  as  1  (  lianninuj 
would  be  nom;  too  severe.  Hut  we  have  i.'  \er  vet 
lian^ed  a  man  in  Forty  ]\Iile,  and  we  don't  want  to  be- 
i^in  if  we  can  help  it.  The  prisoner  lia-  v-xpiissed  a 
desire  to  learn  somethiiiL?  of  our  methods  of  wfM'kiiiLj 
tlieso  dii^L,iii,i^s,  and  we  promised  to  teacli  lii?;!.  JJchas 
a!  '  remarked  that  moss-strippin<jf  was  a  job  w  ell  suited 
to  convicts.  So  be  it.  Prisoner  at  the  bar,  stand  up 
and  receive  your  sentence." 

AVhen  the  wretched  man,  who  had  fancied  himself  in 
a  country  where  he  could  commit  any  crime  without  fear 
of  ])unishment,  had  been  assisted  to  his  feet  by  3Iar- 
shal  Bettens  and  a  volunteer  deputy,  the  judgti  said: 

"  J^y  a  fair  trial,  accordiuL^  to  Yukon  law,  you  are 
convicted  of  crimes  such  as  this  community  does  not 
allow  to  12:0  unpunished.  On  account  of  them  you  are 
liereby  sentenced  to  strip  moss  from  the  several  claims 
of  this  camp  during  every  working-hour  of  every  work- 
ing-day from  now  until  such  time  as  tho  first  steamer 
reaches  hero  from  tlie  lower  rivei-  and  is  ready  to  re- 
turn. Then  you  W'ill  be  allowed  to  work  your  way  on 
lier  to  St.  Michaels,  "where  may  the  agent  have  mercy 
upon  you. 

"In  the  meantime,  when  not  .'t  work,  you  -will  be 
closely  conlined  in  the  camp  lock~uj),  under  guard  of  the 
marshal,  who  shall  be  entitled  to  your  service-s  for  two 


IP 


160 


SNOW-SllOKS    AND   SLKDGES 


i!i-:    m 


%' 


(l;ivs  ill  every  week  foe  iiis  trouble.  On  other  clays  he 
will  hire  you  out  to  an}'  miner  who  has  moss  to  be 
stri])])('(l,  and  who  will  ])ay  for  your  keep  during  such 
time  as  you  may  work  for  him." 

This  ui'ique  but  just  sentence  Avas  greeted  with  a 
murmur  of  a]»proval  from  the  si)eetators  ;  but  this  was 
(|uickly  silenced  by  a  frown  from  the  judge,  who  con- 
tinucfl  : 

"All  the  property  that  you  brought  into  th.is  camp, 
including  money  and  outfit,  excepting  your  j)ersonal 
clothing,  is  hereby  confiscated,  to  be  dis})Osed  of  as  fol- 
lows :  One  team  of  dogs,  one  sledge,  and  half  the  cash 
found  in  your  ])ossession  shall  be  restored  to  Mr.  Jalap 
Coombs,  from  whom  you  helped  to  steal  them.  The  re- 
nminder  of  the  money,  after  the  Indian  drivers  who 
came  with  you  have  l)een  paid,  and  one  dog  team  shall 
be  devoted  to  the  relief  of  Simon  Goldollar,  who, 
though  he  seems  to  be  a  ])retty  bad  lot,  is  still  a  white 
man,  and  so  must  not  be  allowed  to  perish  if  it  can  be 
helped.  The  third  dog  team  shall  become  the  proper- 
ty of  j\[arshal  Bettens  in  place  of  a  fee  for  his  services. 
The  remainder  of  the  })roperty,  provisions,  and  so 
forth,  shall  be  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  prisoner 
during  such  times  as  he  is  working  for  the  marshal. 
]\Ir.  Jk'ttens  will  now  remove  his  prisoner,  and  I  here- 
by declare  this  court  adjoui'iied." 

T'lis  trium[)h  of  the  law  and  .hidge  Kiley's  decision 
gave  such  universal  satisfaction  to  the  s))ecta.tors  of  that 
trial  that  they  yelled  with  delight  as  they  poured  from 
the  court-room  door.  They  congratulated  one  another 
on  the  perfection  of  their  home-made  code,  and  the 
promptness  with  which  its  provisions  were  dealt  out  to 
evil-doers. 

From  that  dav  on  every  man  in  camp  exhibited  such 
a  lively  int(M'est  in  the  moss-sti'ipping  operations  of 
INIr.  Uradwick-Strengel  that  many  times  when,  thinking 


EEAPrEAKANCE    OF   THE    FUR-SEAL's    TOOTH        161 

himself  unobserved,  he  attempted  to  sliirk  liis  work  lie 
was  roused  to  renewed  industry  by  the  playful  pop  of 
a  gun,  and  tlie  warning  note  of  a  bullet  in  close  prox- 
imity to  his  i)lacc  of  business.  Thus  was  he  given  sueh 
ample  exj>erience  of  gold- mining  on  the  Yukon  that 
when,  some  months  later,  a  boat  arrived  from  the 
lower  river,  he  thankfully  dej»arted  from  Camp  Forty 
]\lile,  rnentallv  vowinu:  never  to  return. 

After  considling  with  l^liil,  Serge,  and  Jalap 
Coombs  Mr.  Piatt  lliley,  who  objected  to  being  called 
"judge"  outside  of  court,  decided  to  intrust  Simon 
Goldollar's  rescue  from  the  Indian  village  in  which  he 
had  been  left  to  Kurilla  and  Chitsah,  who  were  pel- 
siiaded  by  a  liberal  payment  to  return  home  that  way. 
Another  Indian  was  hired  to  accomjtany  them  as  far 
as  Fort  Yukon,  and  bring  back  word  to  Forty  Mile  of 
their  success.  If  they  found  him  alive  and  able  to 
travel,  they  were  lo  carry  him  with  them  to  Anvik. 

Phil  wrote  and  sent  him  a  letter,  in  which  he  apolo- 
gized for  havinjjn:  accused  him  of  stealinii  his  money  or 
the  fur-seal's  tooth,  Jalaj)  Coombs  having  told  him  the 
facts  concerning  these  things,  and  hoped  he  would  re- 
turn to  St.  Michaels  in  safety.  Long  afterwards  lie 
learned  that  Simon  Goldollar  did  make  his  way  down 
the  river,  aided  by  Kurilla  and  Chitsah,  and  was  sent 
on  by  Gerald  Ilamer  from  Anvik  to  St.  Michaels. 
There  he  was  discharged  from  the  com})any's  employ 
on  account  of  the  failure  of  his  expedition,  and  linally 
left  Alaska  in  the  same  ship  that  bore  ex-convict 
Strengel  from  its  shores.  An  amusing  feature  of  it  all 
was  that  both  these  rascals  attributed  the  ill  succ(!ss  of 
their  undertakings  to  the  unlucky  influence  of  the  fur- 
seal's  tooth. 

"^['his  industrious  ])it  of  ivory,  which  exhibited  such  a 

fondness  for  interfering  with  llie  alTairs  of  men  and 

boys,  as  well  as  such  activity  in  rapid  travel  and  change 
11 


i'ii:3  H 


iMti 


t  ■ 

■ 

)    : 

:      V 

^B  ^ 

:  ■' 

i 

Wi' 

162 


snow-siiop:s  and  sledges 


of  ovvnersliip,  reposed  for  several  days  in  ]\Ir.  Piatt 
Riley's  vest-pocket,  where  it  had  been  unconsciously 
thrust  and  forgotten.  Finally,  tired  of  being  thus  neg- 
lected, it  worked  a  hole  through  the  pocket  and  fell  to 
tile  floor.  From  there  it  was  snapped  up  by  Mr.  Riley's 
favorite  dog,  who  lay  at  his  feet,  and  doubtless  imag- 
ined it  to  be  a  clioice  morsel  provided  for  him  by  his 
indulgent  master.  A  moment  later  the  judge  was 
aroused  from  a  reverie  by  the  frantic  struGjixles  of  his 
dog,  wiio  seemed  on  the  })oint  of  strangulation.  When 
he  succeeded,  by  ])rompt  effort,  in  removing  the  ob- 
struction from  the  animal's  throat,  and,  with  a  feeling 
of  superstitious  amazement,  discovered  its  nature,  he 
started  at  once  for  tlie  store  of  the  Yukon  Trading 
Companj'-,  determined  to  be  rid  of  the  uncanny  object 
as  quickly  as  ])ossible. 

It  so  happened  that  none  of  the  three  occupants  of 
the  premises  was  at  home,  nor  were  they  to  be  seen  in 
any  direction.  They  had  been  ])reparing  for  (le))arture, 
and  many  articles  ready  for  packing  on  the  sledges  lay 
scattered  about  the  room.  Among  these  was  a  fur 
sleepingd^ag,  on  which  Mr.  Riley's  eye  no  sooner  rest- 
"d  than  he  thrust  the  magic  tooth  into  it  and  shook  it 
to  the  very  bottom. 

"There!"  he  exclaimeil,  "they  are  sure  to  take  it 
W'itli  them  ;  one  of  them  will  iiiid  it  sooner  or  later, 
and  maybe  it  will  bring  him  good  luck.  At  any  rate, 
I  hope  it  will." 

It  was  now  the  month  of  February,  and  high  time 
for  our  travellers  to  be  on  their  way  if  they  wished  to 
liave  snow  to  the  end  of  their  sledge  journey.  Phil 
had  made  most  satisfactory  business  arrangements  for 
Gerald  llainer,  had  sent  that  gentleman  a  long  report 
of  their  progress  to  date  by  Kurilla,  who  also  bore  h't- 
ters  from  himself  and  Serge  to  their  kind  friends  at 
Aiivik,  and  was  now  impatient  to  ])ush  forward. 


■i    i 


REAl'PEAKANCE   OF   THE    FUlI-SEAlAs    TOOTH        1G3 

So  on  the  morning  of  tliG  5tli  of  February,  altliourri, 
the  thermometer  registered  forty-eiglit  degi-ees  below 
zero,  the  little  j)arty  set  forth  from  Forty"  3Iilo  with 
three  sledges  and  seventeen  dogs.  Above  the  iirst 
sledge  fluttered  a  small  flag,  on\vhich  appeared  tlie 
magic  letters  «  U.  S.  31.,"  signifying  that  Phil  ha<l  un- 
dertaken to  deliver  on  the  coast  a  large  packet  of  let- 
ters, the  first  mail  ever  sent  out  from  Forty  Mile  in 
winter. 

The  entire  po).nlation  of  the  camp  was  assembled 
to  see  them  ofi:' ;  and  amid  sincere  ex])ressions  of 
good-will,  a  round  of  hearty  cheers,  and  a  rlngin<T 
volley  the  sledges  dashed  away  up  the  Yukon,  with 
seven  hundred  miles  of  their  journey  still  to  be  ac- 
complished. 


UIIIPR     J.JB 


III  ; 


j: 


CHAPTER  XXV 


RKRGE    DISCOVKRS    A    CURIOUS    CAVER>f 

At  tliG  ])()iiit  Avliere  our  travellers  liad  again  striu-k 
tlie  Yukon,  nearly  fifteen  hundred  miles  from  its  moutli, 
it  was  still  a  mighty  stream  two  miles  wide.  Above 
this  they  found  it  l)ounded  on  both  sides  by  mountains 
that  often  approached  to  its  very  waters,  Avhere,  in 
sheer  precipices  Iiundreds  of  feet  high,  they  form 
gigantic  palisades  similar  to  those  of  the  Hudson, 
which  ;.ve  known  as  the  "  Upj)er  liami)arts."  On  the 
lower  river  the  sledge  l)arty  had  journeyed  over  a 
smooth  surface,  olfering  but  few  obstructions.  Their 
course  from  Anvik  had  at  first  been  due  north,  then 
northeast,  then  east,  and  was  now  due  south,  the 
source  of  the  Yukon  towards  which  they  were  trav- 
elling being  some  ten  degrees  south  of  its  great  arc- 
tic bend. 

Owing  to  this  they  now  found  themselves  confront- 
ed by  the  hardest  kind  of  sledging  over  rough,  hum- 
niocky  ice  that  was  often  |)iled  in  chaotic  ridges  twenty 
and  thirty  feet  high.  As  the  river  freezes  first  at  its 
most  northerh^  ])oint,  and  this  belt  of  solid  ice  is  grad- 
ually extended  south,  or  back  towards  its  source,  the 
floating  cakes  of  its  upj)er  reaches,  borne  by  the  swift 
current,  are  piled  on  the  ever- advancing  l)arrier  in 
confused    masses    that    stretch    across    the    river   like 


WMK 


Irow 


In  th(!  spring,  when  the  ice  breaks  up  and  is  hurled 
irresistibly  down  stream  on  the  swollen  current,  the 


SERGE    DISCOVERS    A    CTRIOUS     CAVKRX 


105 


ifront- 

,  Inim- 

wi'iity 

.at  its 

i",  the 

swift 

ier  in 

like 

luvlcd 
it,  the 


same  effect  is  reproduced  on  a  vastly  increased  scale, 
'i'lioii  the  upper  river  breaks  first,  and  a  sudden  rise  <»f 
water  from  some  cjreat  tributarv  starts  the  ice  (»ver  the 
still  solid  barrier  below.  The  huge  cakes  slide,  jam, 
push,  and  crash  over  the  still  unbroken  ice  sheet,  until 
they  are  piled  in  a  vast  gleaming  mass  seventy  or 
eighty  feet  in  height,  from  a  (piarter  of  a  mile  to  one 
mile  in  length,  and  extending  from  bank  to  bank. 

This  mighty  gorge  must  give  way  at  length,  and 
when  it  does  it  goes  with  a  roaring  fury  that  is  ter- 
rifvinor  and  jjrand  bevond  description.  After  jxrind- 
ing  and  tearing  onward  for  several  miles,  or  perhaps 
less  than  one,  the  furious  impulse  is  again  checked  by 
another  solid  barrier,  which  must  in  turn  be  broken 
down  and  swept  away,  its  added  -weight  giving  in- 
creased energv  to  the  mi^htv  force. 

So  the  ice  crashes  its  resistless  way  down  the  wlioh? 
Yukon  Valley  to  Bering  Sea,  two  thousand  miles  dis- 
tant, sweeping  everything  before  it,  mowing  down  vast 
areas  of  forest,  submerging  islands,  tearing  out  banks, 
a''  1  leavinji  evervwhere  traces  of  its  terrible  ijroofress 
in  he  shape  of  huge  ice  cakes,  weighing  many  tons, 
stranded  hinrh  above  ordinarv  water-level. 

Although  Phil  Ryder  and  his  companions  were  not 
to  witness  this  grand  exhibition  of  one  of  nature's 
mightiest  forces,  thev  were  sadlv  inconvenienced  and 
delaved  1)V  the  uncomfortable  fashion  in  which  their 
frozen  lii<xhway  had  been  constructed  some  months 
earlier,  it  they  could  have  left  the  river  and  followed 
along  its  banks  they  would  have  done  so;  but  this  Avas 
out  of  the  question,  not  only  on  account  of  their  rugged 
character,  but  because  on  their  timbered  portions  the 
snow  lay  many  feet  in  depth,  while  fi'oni  the  river  it 
had  been  so  blown  by  strong  north  winds  that  for  long 
stretches  the  ice  was  barelv  covered.  This  enabled 
the  sledu'e  men  to  walk  without  snow-shoes,  which  was 


w— 


100 


SNOW-SHOES    ANT)    SLEDGES 


a  <^rQiit  comfort  to  all  throe,  but  espocially  to  Jalap 
Coombs,  who  had  not  yet  learned  to  use  the  netted 
frames  with  "  ease  and  liiieney,"  as  l*hil  said. 

To  this  lii^ht-liearted  youth  the  sij^dit  of  Ins  sailor 
friend  wrestling;  witli  the  diffieulties  of  inland  navitja- 
tion  as  practised  in  arctic  regions  allorded  a  never- 
failing  source  of  mirth,  A  single  glance  at  Jalap's  lank 
figure  envelo})ed  in  furs,  with  Ids  weather-beaten  face 
j)eering  from  the  recesses  of  a  hair-fringed  hooti,  was 
enough  at  any  time  to  make  Phil  laugh.  Jalap  on 
snow-slioes  that,  in  spite  of  all  liis  efforts,  would  slide 
in  every  diivction  but  the  one  desired,  and  Jala})  gaz- 
inuc  at  a  frosty  world  through  a  i)air  of  wooden  snow- 
goggles,  were  sights  that  even  sober-sided  Serge  found 
liumorous, 

But  funniest  of  all  was  to  see  Jala])  drive  a  dog 
team.  This  he  was  now  obliged  to  do,  for,  while  they 
still  liad  three  sledges,  they  had  l)een  unable  to  ])rocure 
any  Indians  at  Forty  ]Mile  to  take  the  places  of  Kurilla 
and  Chitsah.  So  while  Phil,  who  was  now  an  expert 
in  the  art  of  dooj-drivinir,  and  could  handle  a  six-yard 
whip  like  a  native,  took  turns  with  Serge  in  breaking 
the  road.  Jalap  was  always  allowed  to  bring  up  the 
rear.  His  dogs  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  whip, 
except,  indeed,  when  it  trip])ed  him  up  so  that  he  fell 
on  top  of  them,  but  the}^  cringed  and  whined  beneath 
the  torrent  of  incomprehensible  sea  terms  incessantly 
poured  forth  by  the  strange  master,  who  talked  to  them 
as  though  they  were  so  many  lubberly  sailors. 

"  Port  your  helium  !  Hard  a-port  !"  he  would  roar 
to  the  accompaniment  of  Hying  chunks  of  ice  that  he 
could  throw  with  amazing  certainty  of  aim.  Then, 
"  Steady  !  So  !  Start  a  sheet  and  give  her  a  rap  full. 
Now  keep  her  so!  Keej)  her  so!  D'ye  hear?  Let 
her  fall  off  a  fraction  of  a  p'int  and  Pll  rake  ye  fore 
and  aft.     Now,  then,  bullies,  ])ull  all  together.     Yo-ho, 


hi 


sergp:  discovkus  a  cuKiors  cavkrn 


UJ7 


heave  f  No  sojoring  !  Ah,  you  will,  will  ye,  ye  furry 
s(\'i-c()ok  !  'J'hen  take  that,  and  stow  it  in  your  bread- 
locker.  Shake  your  hay-seed  and  climb — cliinb,  I  tell 
ye!  Avast  heaving!"  And  so  on,  hour  after  hour, 
while  the  dogs  would  jump  and  pull  and  tangle  their 
"  running-rigging,"  as  Jalaj)  named  the  trace-thongs, 
and  the  two  boys  would  shout  with  laughter. 

Jjut  while  the  journey  thus  furnished  something  of 
merriment,  it  was  also  tilled  with  tribulations.  So  bit- 
ter was  the  cold  that  their  bloodless  lips  were  often  too 
stiff  for  laughter  or  even  for  speech.  So  rough  was 
the  way  that  they  rarely  made  more  than  eight  or  ten 
miles  in  a  day  of  exhausting  labor.  Several  dogs  broke 
their  legs  amid  the  chaotic  ice  blocks  of  the  ever- 
recurring  ridges,  and  had  to  be  shot.  Along  the  pali- 
saded Ramparts  it  was  difficult  to  find  timbered  places 
in  which  to  camp.  Their  dog  feed  was  running  low, 
and  there  was  none  to  be  liad  in  the  wretched  native 
villages  that  they  passed  at  long  intervals. 

At  length  the  setting  sun  of  one  evening  found  them 
at  a  point  where  the  river,  narrowed  to  a  few  liundred 
yards,  Avas  bounded  on  one  side  by  a  lofty  precipice 
of  rock,  and  on  the  other  by  a  steeply  sloping  bank 
that,  devoid  of  timber,  seemed  to  descend  from  an 
open  plateau.  They  halted  beside  a  single  log  of  drift 
that,  half  embedded  in  ice,  was  the  only  available  bit 
of  firewood  in  sight.  It  was  a  bleak  and  bitter  place 
in  which  to  spend  an  arctic  night,  and  they  shivered 
in  anticipation  of  what  they  were  to  suffer  during  its 
long  hours. 

"I  am  going  to  climl)  to  the  top  of  the  bank,"  said 
Serge,  "and  see  if  I  can't  find  some  more  wood.  If  I 
do,  I'll  roll  it  down  ;  so  look  out!" 

Suitinsj  his  action  to  his  words,  the  active  lad  started 
with  a  run  that  carried  him  a  few  yards  up  the  steep 
ascent.     It  was  so  abrupt  that  lie  was  on  the  point  of 


frr 


^     i< 


iii!  ^m 


t    j 

i  ' 

■ 

,     ; 

)■■ 

■fil 

•;^      ; 

:     5   .5 

;  ;i| 

;   r? 

■  i 

(,'   . 

1 

II 

ill 

1G8 


RN'OW-SIIOES    AND   SLEDOES 


sliding  back,  aixl  dufif  Ins  feet  sharply  into  the  snow 
to  secure  a  hohl.  At  the  same  instant  he  uttered  a 
cry,  thre\v  u|>  his  arms,  and  dropped  from  the  sii,dit 
of  his  astonished  companions  as  though  he  had  fallen 
down  a  well. 

Before  they  could  make  a  move  towards  his  rescue, 
they  were  more  astounded  than  ever  to  liear  his  voice, 
somewhat  muttted,  hut  apj)arentiy  close  beside  them. 

'Tni  all  right  !"  he  cried,  cheerily.  "  That  is,  I  think 
I  am,  and  I  believe  I  can  cut  my  way  out.  Don't  try 
to  climb  thc^  bank.     Just  wait  a  minute," 

Tlicii  tlii'  bank  began  to  tremble  as  though  shaken 
by  a  gentle  earthquake,  and  suddenly  a  liaiul  clutching 
a  knife  shot  out  from  it  so  close  to  Jala})  Cooml)s  that 
the  startled  sailor  leaped  back  to  avoid  it,  stumbled 
over  a  sledge,  and  ])lunged  headlong  among  liis  own 
team  of  <lo<:^s,  who  were  Iving  in  the;  snow  Ix'vond,  ])a- 
tiently  waiting  to  be  unljarnessed.  IJy  the  time  the 
yelling,  howling  mass  of  man  and  dogs  was  disentan- 
gled and  se})arated,  Serge  had  emerged  from  the  mys- 
terious bank,  and  stood  lookini;  as  thouiifh  he  did  not 
quite  understand  what  had  hapj)ened.  Behind  him 
was  a  black  opening  into  which  Phil  was  peering  with 
the  liveliest  curiosity. 

*'  Of  all  the  mira(des  I  ever  heard  of,  this  is  the 
straiigest  !"    he    cried.      "  What    does    it    mean,    old 


man 


9" 


"I  don't  exactly  know,"  answered  Serge.  "JJut  I 
rather  think  it  is  a  moss  blanket.  Anyhow,  that's  an 
elegant  j)lace  to  crawl  into  out  of  the  cold.     Seems  to 


)d,  t 


00 


be  plenty  of  woo 

Serge  Avas  right  in  his  conjecture.     What  appeared 
to  be  the  river-bank  was  merely  a  curtain  of  tough, 


iisr 


closely    compacted   Alaskan  moss,  closely  resembli 
peat  in  its  structure,  on(i  foot  thick,  and  reaching  from 
the  crest  of  an  overhanging  ban'K  to  the  edge  of  the  river. 


seu(;k  discovers  a  OURIDIS  cavkkx 


fij» 


OULlll, 

from 
river. 


It  ]i.id  tluis  lu'ld  together,  find  fallen  to  its  present  posi- 
tion when  the  river  underMiincil  und  swept  uway  the 
earth  from  beneath  it.  'J'hat  it  jirescnted  a  slopini^ 
surface  instead  of  hangini;-  perpendieul.irly  was  owiiiL^ 
to  a  great  number  of  timbers,  the  ends  of  which  }»ro- 
ieeted  from  tlie  excavatt'd  bank  bi-hind  it.  Sei'Lje  had 
broken  through  the  moss  curtain,  fallen  between  these 
tii!ibers  to  the  beach,  and  then  c;ut  his  way  out.  Now, 
as  lie  suggesteil,  what  better  camping-place  could  tlu-y 
ask  than  the  warm,  dry,  moss -enclosed  space  from 
which  he  had  just  emerged  ? 

''  I  nevi-r  saw  nor  lieard  of  an\t]iin<'  so  particularly 
and  awfully  jolly  in  all  my  life,"  ]ironounced  Phil, 
after  the  three  travellers  had  entered  this  uni(iue  cav- 
ern, and  started  a  tire  by  ^\hich  they  were  enabled  ti> 
see  something  of  its  strange  interior.  "  And,  1  say. 
Serge,  what  a  thouglitful  scheme  it  was  on  your  part 
to  provide  a  chimney  for  the  tire  before  you  lighted  it! 
8e(^  how  the  smoke  draws  uj)  ?  If  it  wasn't  for  that 
hole  in  the  roof  I  am  afraid  we  shoidd  be  driven  out  of 
liere  in  short  ordi-r.  IJut,  hello,  old  man  I  Whew-w! 
what  are  you  throwing  bones  on  the  lire  forV  It  re- 
minds me  of  your  brimstone-and-feather  experiment  on 
Oonimak." 

"Bones!"  repeated  8erge,  in  snr|)rise.  "Are  those 
bones?     I  tliought  they  were  dry  sticks." 

"I  should  say  they  were  bones  !"  cried  Phil,  snatch- 
ing a  couple  of  tlie  olTending  objects  fron\  the  lire. 
"And,  sure  as  I  live,  this  log  I  am  sitting  on  is  a  bone, 
too.  Why,  it's  bigger  than  I  am.  It  begins  to  look 
as  though  this  place  were  some  sort  of  a  tomb,  iiut 
there's  plenty  of  wood.  Let's  throw  on  some  more  and 
light  U])." 

"Toughest  wood  to  cut  I  ever  see,"  growled  .Jalap 
Coombs,  who  was  liacking  away  at  another  lialf-buried 
log.    "  'Pears  to  be  brittle,  though,  and  splits  easy,"  ho 


h 

w 

1 

M    1' 

5 

* 

'    'S 

l! 

rt 

^' 

'         14 

I? 


170 


KNOW-SHOES   AM)    SI,KD(iKS 


added,  dodging  a  sliver  that  broive  off  and  flew  by  liis 
licad. 

"Hold  on!"  cried  I^liil,  ])icking  up  the  sliver. 
"  \^)ii'll  ruin  the  axe.  That's  another  bone  you're 
chopping.     This  place  is  a  regular  giants'  cemetery." 


^  ■  ik; 


1      'il 


by  his 


sliver. 

VOll'»'0 


/  . 


vvy 


»» 


CTLVrTER    XXVI 
CAMPING    'mid    rillilllSTOKlC    liONES 

So  strange  and  uncanny  was  the  place  in  which  our 
sledge  party  thus  unexpectedly  found  themselves  th:it 
Phil  was  for  exploring  it  and  atteini»ting  to  determine 
its  true  character  at  once;  but  ])ractical  Serge  per- 
suaded him  to  wait  until  ihcy  had  ])orfornied  their  reg- 
ular evening  duties  and  eaten  sup])er.  "After  that," 
he  said,  "  we  can  explore  all  night  if  we  choose." 

So  Piiil  turned  his  attention  to  the  dogs,  which  ho 
unharnessed  and  fed,  while  Serge  prepared  supper,  and 
Jalap  Coombs  gathered  a  sui)ply  of  firewood  from  the 
bleached  timber  ends  projecting  from  the  bank  behind 
them.  IIo  tested  each  of  these  before  cutting  into  it 
to  make  certain  that  it  was  not  a  bone,  (piantities  of 
wiiich  were  mingled  Avith  the  timber. 

The  firewood  that  he  thus  collected  exhibited  several 
pu/zling  peculiarities.  To  begin  with,  it  was  so  very 
tough  and  thoroughly  lifeless  that,  as  Jalap  Coombs 
remarked,  he  didn't  know  but  what  bones  would  cut 
just  as  easy.  When  laid  on  the  fire  it  was  slow  to  ig- 
nite, and  iinally  only  smouldered,  giving  out  little  light, 
but  yielding  a  great  heat.  As  Serge  said,  it  made  one 
of  the  ])oorest  fires  to  see  by  and  one  of  the  best  to 
cook  over. that  he  had  ever  known. 

Although  in  all  their  experience  they  had  never  en- 
joyed a  more  comfortable  and  thoroughly  protected 
camping- place  than  this  one,  the  lack  of  their  usual 
cheerful  blaze  and  their  mysterious  surroundings  ere- 


w^^ 


It' I 


172 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND   SLEDGES 


r  I 


ii'  ' 


■  i 


I:  -' 
■;  I 


ntod  :i  feeling  of  (lepressioii  tliiit  caused  tlioni  to  eat 
supper  in  iinusu.il  silence.  At  its  conclusion  Serge 
picked  up  :i  freshly  (Uit  hit  of  tlie  wood,  und,  holding 
it  ill  as  good  a  light  as  he  could  get,  examined  it 
closely. 

"I  never  saw  nor  licard  of  any  wood  like  this  in  all 
Alaska,"  ho  said  at  length.  "Do  you  su])pose  this  can 
be  part  of  a  buried  forest  that  grew  j)erhaps  thousands 
of  years  aijo  V" 

"I  believe  that's  exactly  what  it  is,"  re])lied  ]*hil. 
"I  expect  it  was  some  awfully  prehistoric  forest  that 
was  blown  down  by  a  prehistoric  cyclone,  and  got  cov- 
ered with  mud  somehow,  and  was  just  beginning  to 
turn  into  coal  wlien  the  ice  age  set  lu.  Thus  it  has 
been  preserved  in  cold  storage  ever  since.  It  must 
liave  grown  in  one  of  the  ages  that  one  always  li1  s 
to  hear  of,  but  hates  to  stud}'  about — a  paheozoic  r 
Silurian  or  post-tertiary,  or  one  of  those  times.  At 
any  rate,  I  expect  it  was  a  tropical  forest,  for  they  all 
were  in  those  days." 

"Then  like  as  not  these  here  is  elei)hants'  bones,"  re- 
nnirked  Jalap  Coombs.  "I  were  jest  thinking  as  how 
this  one  had  a  look  of  ivory  about  it." 

"They  may  be,"  assented  Phil,  dubiously,  "but 
they  must  liave  belonged  to  pretty  huge  old  elephants  ; 
for  I  don't  believe  Jumbo's  bones  would  look  like  more 
than  toothpicks  alongside  some  of  these.  It  is  more 
likely  that  they  belonged  to  hairy  mammoths,  or  mas- 
todons, or  megatheriums,  or  plessiosauruses,  or  fellows 
like  that." 

"I  don't  know  as  I  ever  met  uj)  with  any  of  them, 
nor  yet  heerd  tell  of  'em,"  rej)lied  Jalaj)  Coombs,  sim- 
ply, "onless  what  you've  jest  said  is  tliM  Latin  names 
of  rhinocerosses  or  hoponthotnases  or  giraffles,  of  which 
my  old  friend  Kite  Ki)l)erson  useter  speak  quite  fre- 
quent.    He    alius    said    consarning    'em,  though,  that 


CAMl'IN(i     MID    I'UKIIISTOKIC    ISONKS 


173 


tlicni, 


llic'vM  l»i'st  bu  lot  alone,  f(»r  lions  nor  vet  ta'j:'-r<'i's 
warii't  a  sarcMiinstaiHU'  to  'em.  Now  ef  tlK'>e  liere  hones 
beloni^ed  to  any  sicli  ('filters  as  them,  lie  srrtainly 
knou'ed  what  he  were  talkinL;  about,  and  I  for  ono 
are  well  pleased  that  they  all  went  <lead  afore  we  hove 
in  sijifht." 

"I  don't  know  but  what  lam  t.!'»,"  i«-o',ted  Phil, 
"for  at  close  range  I  expect  it  W(^uld  b(>  safer  to  meet 
ono  of  ]Mr.  Robinson's  taggers.  Still,  I  would  like  to 
have  seen  theju  from  a  safe  j)lace,  like  the  top  of  (Jro- 
ton  3Iomiment  or  behind  the  bars  of  a  bank  vault. 
Where  are  you  going.  Serge  V" 

"Going  for  some  wood  that  isn't  ([uite  so  pri'historic 
and  that  will  bla/e,"  answered  the  other  lad,  who  had 
picked  u})  an  axe  and  was  stepping  towards  the  en- 
trance to  the  cavern. 

"That's  a  scheme  !  Come  on,  ^fr.  Coombs,  Let's 
hel})  him  tackle  that  up-todate  log  outside,  and  see  if 
we  can"  get  a  modern  illumination  out  of  it,"  suij^cst- 
ed  Phil. 

St  they  ohopi)etl  vigorously  at  the  ice-bound  drift- 
log  that  had  induced  them  to  halt  at  that  })oint,  and 
half  an  hour  later  the  gloom  of  their  cavern  was  dis- 
]»elled  by  a  roaring,  snap})ing,  n])-to-date  blaze.  ]>y 
its  cheerful  li<j:ht  thev  examined  with  intense  interest 
the  great  fossil  bones  that,  in  various  stages  of  preser- 
vation, lay  scattered  about  them. 

"I  should  think  a  whole  herd  of  mammoths  must 
iiave  perished  at  once,"  said  Phil.  "  I'robably  they  were 
being  hunted  by  some  antediluvian  Siwasli  ami  got 
bogged  in  a  quicksand.  How  I  wish  we  could  see  a 
whole  one!  But,  great  Scott !  now  we  have  jjone  and 
done  it !" 

Phil's  final  exclamation  was  caused  by  a  crackling 
sound  overhead.  The  sloping  moss  roof  had  caught 
tire  from  the  leaping  blaze,  and  for  a  moment  the  dis- 


w 


'»>■! 


vth 


174 


SNOW-SHOES    AM)    SI.KIX  ,I.S 


iii;iv<'tl  speclators  of  this  catastroplic  iinauniKMl  that 
their  smi![;  ('ani])iiii:^-pla('o  was  about  to  ho  <k'stroy('<l. 
They  (juickly  saw,  however,  tliat  the  body  of  tiie  moss 
was  not  burniiiui;  ;  it  was  too  thoroughly  periiieated 
with  ice  for  lliat,  and  tliat  the  tire  was  oi\lv  ihisliinu: 
over  its  dry  uii<h'i"  surface. 

As  tlic}  watched  tliese  fitful  thimes  runiiincc  along- 
the  roof  and  illuniinat  iiii;-  remote  recesses  <^f  tlie  cavern, 
all  tliree  su(bh'nly  uttei'ed  cries  of  ama/emcnt,  and 
eacli  called  tlie  attention  of  the  others  to  the  most 
wonderful  siglit  he  liad  ever  seen.  13rilliantly  lighted 
and  distinctly  outlined  against  the  (Lark  b.'ickgroiind  of 
a  clay  bank,  tliat  held  it  intact,  was  a  gigantic  skeleton 
complete  in  every  detail,  even  to  a  huge  tusk  that 
curved  outward  froi.i  a  massive  skull.  Foi'  a  single 
minute  they  ga/.ed  in  breathless  awe.  Tiien  the  illu- 
minating flame  died  out,  and  like  a  dissolving  picture 
the  vast  outlini'  slowlv  faded  from  view  and  was  lost 
in  the  blackness. 

"  Was  that  one  of  'em?''  gasped  Jala})  t'oonibs, 

"  I  e.xpect  it  was,"  answered  l*hil. 

"  Waal,  then,  old  Kite  didn't  make  no  mistake  when 
he  said  a  tagger  wru-n't  a  sarciimstance." 

"  It  must,  have  been  all  of  twenty  feet  high,"  re- 
marlced  Serge,  rellectively. 

i^\)i-  more  than  an  hour  they  talked  of  the  wonderful 
sight,  and  Phil  told  what  he  could  remenil)er  of  the  gi- 
gantic liairy  mammoth  discovered  frozen  in  a  Sil)erian 
glacier,  and  so  ])erfectly  ])reserved  that  sledge-dogs 
were  fed  for  weeks  on  its  flesh. 

As  they  taIk(Ml  their  lire  buriUMl  low,  ami  the  out- 
'side  cold  creeping  stealthily  i'Mo  camj)  tiirneil  their 
thoughts  to  fur-lined  sh'e[)ing- bags.  So  they  slept, 
and  dri>amed  of  prehistoric  monsters  ;  while  ^Miisky, 
liUvtuk,  Aniook,  and  their  (  Dmrades  restlessly  sniU'ed 
ami  gnawed  at  the  ancient  boties  of  this  strange  en- 


I 


V    «tT»'/- 


IP 


rilH'il    tllllt 

(U'stroycd. 
f  the  moss 
pcrnieattMl 
Iv  ilusliini' 

line?  along 
he  cavern, 
mcnt,  and 
I  \\\o  most 
:lv  lisjclitcd 
\ground  of 
ic  skeleton 
tusk  that 
)Y  a  sinsjjlc 
■n  the  ilhi- 
ng  iiieturo 
1(1  Avas  lost 

>oml)s. 

takt^  when 

high,"  re- 

wonderiul 

of  ihe  gi- 
ii  Siherian 
edge-dog.s 

il  the  out- 
nieil  their 
icy  slept, 
le  ]\liisky, 
sly  sniU'ed 


t range  en- 


v. 


|r 


ijijif  ..jum 


■  *i 

i^. 

''  ^iBJ 

Ji 

^3i 

i :"% 

1 

-          ^ 

*  .  ■ 

ik41i  hi;  i 


PI 


CAMl'IN(t     MID    rREHISTOPJC    BONES 


Ho 


i 


S 


c.'inipniciit,  and  woiulcrcd  at  iindiiiLj  tlieni  so  void  of 
tiavor. 

Glad  as  our  slodire  travollors  would  have  been  to 
linger  for  days  and  fully  explore  the  mysteries  of  that 
great  moss-hidden  cavern,  they  dared  not  take  the  nec- 
essary time.  It  was  already  two  weeks  since  they  had 
left  the  mining  cam]i,  winter  was  waning,  and  thi'v  must 
leave  the  river  ere  spring  destroyed  its  icy  highway. 
So  they  were  off  asj^ain  with  the  iirst  ijjrav  liiiht  of 
morning,  and  two  days  later  found  them  at  the  mouth 
of  the  l-'elly  lliver,  the  u])per  Yukon's  largest  tribu- 
tarv,  and  two  hundred  and  lifteen  miles  from  Fortv 
:\Iile. 

The  last  half  of  this  distance  had  been  traversed 
amid  scenes  of  the  same  stupendous  grandeur  that  at- 
tracts thousands  of  tourists  to  the  Yoseinite  and  Yel- 
lowstone. But  our  travellers  only  shuddei-ed  at  its 
wind-swept  silence  and  terrible  loneliness.  The  latter 
Avas  increased  by  the  melancholy  ruins  of  old  Fort 
Selkii'k,  whose  three  gaunt  chimneys  still  stand,  abc^ut 
one  mile  bi-low  the  mouth  of  the  Pclly,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Yukon.  That  evening  in  the  snug  quar- 
ters of  Harper,  the  Felly  llivcr  trader,  Avho  was  the 
last  white  man  they  could  hope  to  meet  bef(,)re  reatdi- 
ing  the  coast,  they  listened  to  the  story  of  Fort  Sel- 
kirk. 

It  was  established  in  ls:.0  ]»y  the  Hudson  l>ay  C'oin- 
pany,  and  was  their  remotest  ])Ost.  So  far  removed 
was  it  from  the  base  of  suitplies  that  goods  destined 
for  it  were  two  full  years  in  making  the  journey  from 
London  bv  shin  and  across  the  ujreat  northern  wilder- 
ness  by  river  and  ])ortage.  Previous  to  that  time  the 
Indian  trade  of  the  Yukoji  valley  had  b(>en  monopolized 
by  the  Chilkats,  wealthiest,  most  enterprising,  and  most 
warlike  of  Alaskan  natives.  Securing  goods  from  the 
Russians  at  Sitka,  they  would  carry  them  to  their  dis- 


)■ 


.    i 


17G 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLEDGES 


In  } 
1. « 


taut  villages  iii  canoes,  and  transport  them  across  the 
mountains  to  Yukon  head-waters  on  tlieir  backs.  Tliere 
the}''  would  be  met  by  tlie  interior  Indians,  wlioni  they 
never  aUowed  to  visit  the  coast. 

The  Chilkats  were  shrewd  enongli  to  reap  enormous 
])rofits  from  tliis  trade,  and  to  fully  ap})reciate  its  val- 
ue. As  soon,  tlierei'ore,  as  they  learned  of  the  establish- 
ment of  Fort  Selkirk,  and  realized  that  it  meant  the 
overtlirow  of  their  lucrative  business,  they  resorted  to 
tlu!  only  method  of  trade  competition  of  wliich  they 
had  any  knowledge.  They  organized  a  war  [)arty, 
crossed  the  mountains,  descended  the  Yukon  nearly 
five  liundred  miles,  and  wiped  Fort  Selkirk  out  of  ex- 
istence, seizing  its  goods  in  payment  for  tlieir  trouble. 

From  the  Pelly  River  trader  our  travellers  gained 
mu(!h  valuable  information  concerning  the  routes  they 
might  pursue  and  the  ditlitnilties  they  had  yet  to  en- 
counter. They  had  indeed  heard  vaguely  of  the  great 
canon  of  the  Yukon,  through  which  the  mad  waters 
are  ])Oured  with  such  fury  that  thi-y  can  never  freeze, 
of  the  rocky  Five  Fiuijers  that  obstruct  its  channel, 
the  Jlink  and  White  Horse  rapids,  and  the  turbident 
oj)en  streams  connecting  its  u[)per  chain  of  lakes  ;  but 
until  this  time  they  had  given  these  dangers  little 
thought.  Now  they  became  real,  while  some  of  them, 
according  to  the  trader,  wen'  impassable  save  by  weary 
detours  through  dense  fori'sts  and  decj>  snows  that 
they  feared  would  delay  them  beyond  the  time  of  the 
river's  breaking  up. 

"^Vhat,  then,  can  we  do?"  asked  Phil. 

"  I'll  tell  you,"  replied  the  trader.  "  Leave  the  Yukon 
at  this  point,  go  about  fifty  miles  up  the  Pelly,  and  turn 
to  your  right  into  the  Fox.  Ascend  this  to  its  head, 
cross  Fox  Lake,  Indian  Trail  Lake,  Lost  Lake,  and  three 
other  small  lakes.  Then  go  down  a  creek  that  emp- 
ties into  the  Little  Salmon,  and  a  few  miles  down  that 


CAMPING    'mid    pre  historic    BOXES  177 

river  to  tliu  Yukon.  In  tins  wav  vo.i  will  liavo  avoided 
the  Five  Finu-ers  an.l  the  Jlink  JIapids,  an.l  found  <r„od 
K-c"  all  the  way.  After  that  kcc|.  <.,,  up  the  main  ?iver 
till  you  pass  Lake  Le  Bar-e.  There  a-.ain  leave  the 
1  ukon,  this  time  for  irood,  bv  the  first  stream  that  iiows 
HI  on  your  right.  It  is  the  Tahkecna,  and  will  lead 
you  to  the  Chilkat  Pass,  which  is  somewhat  lon-er 
but  no  worse  than  the  Chilkoot.  Thus  you  will  a^'i)id 
luost  of  the  rough  ice,  the  great  canon,  and  all  the 
rapids." 

"I>ut  we  shall  surely  get  lost,"  objected  Phil. 

"  Not  if  you  can  hire  Cree  Jim,  who  lives  somewhere 
up  on  the  Fox  River,  to  go  with  you,  for  lie  i:,  the  best 
guide  in  the  country." 

So  the  next  morning  Phil  and  hk  companions  arrain 
set  forth,  this  time  up  the  Polly  River,  with  all  ttieir 
Jiopes  for  safety  and  a  successful  termination  to  their 
journey  centred  upon  the  finding  and  hirino-  of  Cree 
Jim,  the  guide.  * 


i 


A!iJ, 


ClIAl'TEll  XXVII 


LOST    IX    THE    FOIIKST 


IT  was  not  diflicult  to  iiiid  the  Fox  llivcr,  for  it  was 
tlie  first  stream  tiowing  into  the  Pelly  on  the  riglit, 
and  as  the  ice  in  the  hitter  river  was  much  smoother 
tlian  it  liad  been  on  the  Yukon,  our  sledge  travelk'i's 
turned  into  it  on  the  second  day  after  leaving  Harper's. 

"Now,"  said  Phil,  "we  must  keep  a  sharp  lookout 
for  Cree  Jim's  cabin  ;  fur  as  no  one  seems  to  ^:now 
exactly  vhere  it  is  located,  we  may  lind  it  anywhere 
between  here  and  the  head  of  the  stream.  At  any  rate, 
wo  can't  afford  to  miss  it." 

They  did  miss  it  though,  and,  alter  camj/mg  one 
night  on  the  river,  reached  its  lu-ad  in  a  lake  that  they 
knew  must  be  the  Fox.  Although  the  day  was  but 
half  spent,  Phil  decided  to  camp  at  that  point. 

"  You  and  I,  Serge,"  he  said,  "  must  go  back  down 
the  river,  one  on  each  side,  making  long  detours  away 
from  it,  in  hopes  of  finding  either  the  cabin  or  some 
trail  leading  to  it.  At  the  same  time  we  must  keep  a 
sharp  lookout  for  game.  Anything  from  a  bear  to  a 
rabbit  would  be  acce))table  now,  for  if  we  don't  re- 
plenish our  stock  of  meat  i)retty  soon  we  shall  lose 
our  dogs." 

"  All  right,"  replied  Serge;  "  only,  Phil,  do  be  careful 
and  not  get  lost." 

•'  Never  you  fear  on  that  score,"  laughed  the  young 
leader  ;  "  I'll  look  out  for  myself,  but  see  that  you  do 
the  same." 


,1,      1 


LOST    IN    Tin:    [-oliKST 


179 


So  the  two  liids  set  fortli,  leaviiiijj  Jalaj)  Coombs  to 
rei)?ire  caini)  and   boil  the  oatmeal  norridire,  whicli, 


prep 


,  for  it  was 
the  riglit, 
a  smoother 
3  travcHers 
g  Harper's, 
irp  lookout 
IS  to  ':iio\v 
t  anywhere 
Vt  any  rate, 

imping  one 
:e  that  they 
,y  was  but 
nt. 

back  down 
(Mirs  away 
in  or  some 
lust  keep  a 
a  bear  to  a 
e  don't  re- 
3  shall  lose 

I)  be  careful 

the  young 
hat  you  do 


mixed  with  a  small  quantity  of  fish,  now  formed  the 
dogs'  daily  meal. 

Phil  ])lunged  directly  into  the  forest,  deciding  to 
start  out  with  one  of  the  detours  that  he  had  plaiine(l. 
Once  within  shelter  of  the  trees,  he  found  the  snow  ^o 
deep  that  l)ut  for  his  snow-shoes  he  could  have  made 
no  progress.  ]>y  their  aid  he  was  able  to  push  for- 
ward at  a  fair  rati'  of  sj)eed,  which  he  determined  to 
maintain  on  as  straight  a  line  as  possible  until  within 
half  an  hour  of  sunset.  Then  he  would  bend  to  the 
left  until  he  reached  the  river,  which  he  was  certain 
could  not  be  very  far  away,  and  which  he  could  follow 
back  to  camp  even  in  the  dark. 

So  for  several  hours  he  plodded  sturdily  forward, 
keeping  a  shar[)  lookout  for  any  trail  of  man  or  beast, 
and  making  as  little  noise  as  possible,  in  the  hope  of 
suri)risin<j  something  worthy  of  a  shot.  All  at  once 
the  surprise  came  from  the  other  side  ;  for,  with  a 
rush  from  behind  a  clumi)  of  young  hemlocks,  a  huge 
brown  animal,  Avith  great  palmated  horns,  crossed  his 
])ath  only  a  few  rods  ahead,  and  dashed  away  at  right 
angl(>s,  flinging  the  snow  to  both  sides  like  a  rotary 
railroad  i)lough.  llapid  as  were  his  movements,  Phil 
got  in  one  flying  shot  just  as  he  disa]:)peared. 

"It  was  a  moose!"  thought  the  excited  lad;  ''big- 
gest one  I  ever  saw.  And  I  hit  him  !"  he  cried  aloud, 
a  minute  later,  as  he  examined  the  broad  trail  left  by 
the  flying  beast.  "  Hit  him  hard,  too  !"  he  added,  as, 
noting  blood  -  stains  on  the  snow  and  forgetful  of 
everything  else,  he  set  forth  in  hot  pursuit  of  his 
stricken  game.  "  He  can't  hold  that  ])ace  long,  Avound- 
ed,  and  through  snow  as  deep  as  this,"  he  reflectetl, 
"and  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  I  found  him  at 
bay  inside   of  a   mile.     Oh,  if    I   can    only  get    him, 


m 


i'^mi 


ISO 


SN'OW-SIIUES    AND    SLEDGES 


'J  ' 


t 


■!ii| 


M;  , 


it  will  settle  the  food  question  for  the  rest  of  the 
trip  !" 

So,  Avith  liigh  hopes,  uiul  with  all  his  huntinuj  iii- 
stiiiets  fully  aroused,  Phil  followed  that  blood-stained 
trail,  not  only  for  one  mile,  but  for  several  more, 
though  without  eatehing  another  glimpse  of  the  fly- 
ing moose.  Nor  eould  l)e  discover  any  sign  of  slack- 
ened speed  or  diminished  strength  on  the  ])art  of  liis 
huge  quarry.  The  strides  were  just  as  long  as  at  first, 
and  the  snow  was  Hung  just  as  far  on  either  side  of 
the  trail,  liut  for  the  crimson  stains  betokening  a 
stcadv  loss  of  blood,  Phil  would  Ioulc  since  have  driven 
u})  tlie  chase.  They  encouraged  him  to  keej)  on,  "For 
surely,"  he  said  to  himself,  ''no  animal,  not  even  a 
moose,  can  stand  a  drain  like  that  forever." 

All  at  once  he  stopped  short,  and  gazed  about  him 
with  startled  glances.  The  trail  Avas  iTjrowinu:  dim; 
stealthy  shadows  were  creeping  through  the  forest. 
The  day  was  s|)ent  and  night  was  at  hand.  "  Now  I 
ain  in  for  it!"  he  crieil,  bitterlv.  "Here  I  am  miles 
from  camp  witliout  an  idea  of  its  direction  or  that  of 
the  river.  3Iv  onlv  Ljuide  to  either  is  the  trail  bv  Avhich 
I  liave  just  come,  and  I  should  lose  that  in  the  dark- 
ness before  I  liad  gone  lialf  a  mile.  The  only  thing 
to  do  is  to  make  a  hungry  camp,  and  make  it  quick, 
too,  before  the  light  is  wholly  gone." 

Thus  deciding,  l*hil  left  the  trail  and  liastened  tow- 
ards a  bunch  of  dead  timber  that  stood  a  short  dis- 
tance to  one  side.  lie  scra})ed  the  snow  from  a  pros- 
trate log,  and  tluMi,  using  one  of  liis  snow-shoes  as  a 
shovel,  dug  out,  a  small  space  down  to  tlu;  groimd  be- 
side it.  A  litth'  ])ile  of  dry  twigs  and  bark,  and  a  few 
sticks  of  larger  wood,  were  hastily  collected  and  heaped 
against  the  log.  When  he  got  his  tire  well  started  he 
would  gather  more.  Now  to  whittle  a  handful  of 
shavings,  and    then    for   a    blaze.      Oh,  how  good   it 


•'^'.'11 


Mt 


Lost  in  tiik  fokkst 


181 


tllG 


tr   in- 

inoiv, 
e  tly- 
slack- 
3f  his 
i  first, 
iclo  of 
liiiL!;  a 
frivcii 
,  "  For 
iveii  a 

it  hiui 
r  dim; 
forest. 
Now  I 
ji  miles 
bat  of 
which 
dark- 
thing 
quick, 

od  tow- 
er t  dis- 
a  pros- 

'S  as  a 
und  be- 
ll a  few 

heai)ed 
,rted  he 
idful   of 

o'ood   it 

c5 


would  seem  !  How  it  would  drive  away  tlie  horrid 
loneliness,  jiush  ));u'k  llie  encroacliinu;  sliadows,  and 
replace  the  deadly  chill  of  the  on-cominui;  nJLiht  witJi 
its  own  uenial  warmth  I  It  could  not  furnish  food,  of 
course,  aiul  lie  must  eiulure  Ioul;-  hours  of  jiunger,  but 
even  that  could  be  borne  with  its  ciicery  aid. 

And  now  to  lii^ht  it.  l*hil  had  a  match-sale  in  one 
of  his  inner  ])Ockets,  where  he  always  cariied  it  for  just 
such  emergencies  as  this,  and  at  lengtli,  after  a  struggle 
with  his  close-titting  ])arka,  he  drew  it  forth.  As  he 
opened  it,  and  gazed  into  its  em])ty  interior,  a  chill 
])enetrateil  his  very  marrow. 

"  What  a  fool  I  am  I  what  :i  nnserable, careless  fool !" 
he  cried,  in  tones  of  despair.  "  I  knew  it  was  ('m])ty 
two  days  ago,  and  meant  to  refill  it;  but  I  didn't,  and 
now  I  must  suffer  the  consequences.  What  shall  I  do? 
wliat  shall  I  do?  A  night  in  this  jijace  without  a  fire 
will  drive  me  crazy,  even  if  I  doift  freeze  to  death 
before  morning." 

As  Phil  gazed  about  him  in  a  very  agony  of  ajijU'c- 
hension.  Ids  iflance  ieste<l  on  his  ritie  leaniuii  ai^ainst 
a  tree,  and  a  ray  of  hoi)e  entered  his  heart.  ''l'her(» 
was  tire  if  he  could  only  capture  and  control  it.  How 
was  it  that  wrecked  sailors,  and  lost  hunters,  and  all 
sorts  of  peo])le  always  managed  to  (d)tain  lire  from  a 
gun,  or  rather  from  a  ])istol,  which  was  ])ractically  the 
same  thing?  He  tried  to  recall  what  he  had  read  of 
such  experiences.  Oh  yes  !  It  was  by  Hashing  ])owder 
in  the  pan.  But  his  gun  hadn't  any  ))an.  He  had 
never  seen  one  that  had,  unless  it  was  Kurilla's  Hint- 
lock.  Of  course,  now  he  remembered,  it  (Tnl  have  a  place 
into  which  the  Indian  used  to  ])0ur  a  little  j)owder 
every  time  he  wanted  to  lire  his  old  blunderbuss.  How 
Phil  wished  his  Winchester  were  a  Hint  lock  musket 
just  at  that  m'oment!  Hut  it  wasn't,  and  it  didn't  have 
any  pan,  and  loose  ])owder  was  not  used  in  connection 


182 


SNOVV-SIIOKS    AND    SLKIKiKS 


I 


witli  it.  But  tluTO  wus  plenty  of  powder  incased  in 
its  metallic  eartridjj-es  if  onlv  lie  {M»uld  yet  at  it,  and 
could  contrive  some  j)lan  for  adaptini?  it  to  his  ])urposo. 

All  these  ideas  j)assed  like  a  flash,  and  Phil  had 
hardly  tliought  of  i)0\vder  hefore  he  was  examining 
one  of  liis  cartridufes,  and  tryinq;  to  dig  the  bullet  out 
of  its  metal  shell  with  the  point  of  his  knife.  IJut  it 
was  held  too  tightly,  and  he  only  ])ricked  his  fingers. 

Then  another  ])lan  came  into  his  mind.  He  laid 
his  rilie  on  the  ground;  over  its  stock  he  s])read  a 
s(piare  of  cotton  cloth  such  as  he  and  Serge  were  accus- 
tomed to  tear  from  the  great  piece  jn'ovided  among 
their  stores  whenever  they  needed  clean  h;'iidkerchiefs. 
On  the  clotli  Phil  laid  a  cartridge,  that  ho  held  in  ])o- 
sition  with  the  sharp  edge  of  his  knife -blade,  placed 
so  that  it  would  cut  just  at  the  base  of  the  bullet. 
Then  he  struck  the  back  of  the  blade  a  smart  blow 
with  a  billet  of  wood,  and  the  job  was  done.  lie  had 
got  at  the  ])owder. 

He  })oured  out  two-thirds  of  the  precious  mixture, 
and  rubbed  it  well  into  one  side  of  the  cloth,  which  he 
doubled  twice  and  fixed  against  the  log.  Then,  after 
stopping  the  ojjen  end  of  the  shell  with  a  tiny  wad  of 
lint  to  keep  the  remainder  of  the  powder  from  running 
out,  ho  inserted  it  in  the  chamber  of  his  ritle.  Aiming 
it  at  the  cloth,  with  the  muzzle  about  one  foot  away, 
and  trembling  with  cold,  or  excitement,  or  anxiety,  or 
with  all  three,  he  pulled  the  trigger. 

The  rejiort  that  followed  was  hardly  as  loud  as  that 
of  a  small  fire-cracker,  but  the  success  of  the  scheme 
was  instant.  The  little  flame  poured  from  tlie  muzzle 
of  the  rifle  into  that  })owder-impregnated  square  of 
cotton  cloth  ignited  it  at  once.  A  moment  later  it  was 
nestled  amid  the  bundle  of  twicrs  and  shavino-s,  while 
Phil,  on  hands  and  knees,  was  puffing  at  it  like  a  pair 
of  bellows. 


LOST    IN    TIIK    lOliKST 


18;} 


ris  that 

clioiuo 

linuzzlc 

are  of 

it  was 

whilo 

a  pail' 


III  two  miiuitos  more  his  fire  was  a  eoi-lalnty,  tlie 
hhick  shadows  were  alrea<ly  bci^iiiniii!^  to  retreat  be- 
fore its  clieerv  attaek,  and  I'liil  Rvder's  spirits  had 
jiim[)ed  from  zero  ahuost  to  the  iigiire  that  represents 
li^ht-liearteihiess. 

Throwing  off  Ins  fur  i»arka,  that  he  miglit  the  better 
aj)j»reciate  its  warmth  later,  aii<l  seizing  a  snow-slioe, 
lie  eleared  the  whole  space  l)i'tween  the  first  log  and 
anotlier  that  lay  a  few  yards  Iteyoiid.  InU)  this  open- 
ing he  dragged  all  the  logs  and  dead  branches  he  eoiild 
find,  working  with  sueh  energy  that  at  the  enil  of  an 
hour  he  had  a  line  large  pile,  and  was  in  a  glow  from 
the  exercise.  Now  he  built  another  fire  against  the 
farther  log,  and  piled  Ids  spare  wood  so  that  it  was 
beyond  reach  of  either  flame. 

lie  next  spread  a  few  spruce  and  liemlock  boughs  on 
the  ground  between  the  two  fires,  selected  a  medium- 
sized  chunk  of  wood  for  a  pilhnv,  donned  his  ])arka, 
drew  its  great  hood  over  his  head,  and,  with  his  rifle 
by  his  side,  lay  down  on  a  much  warmer  and  more 
comfortable  couch  than  he  had  dared  anticipate  a 
couple  of  hours  l)efore. 

Phil  meant  to  keej>  awake  so  as  to  tend  his  fires,  but 
instead  of  so  doing  he  fell  asleep  within  an  hour,  and 
slept  soundly  right  through  the  night.  When  he  at 
length  awoke  and  sat  up,  he  was  chilled  and  stiff  with 
c(tld,  for  the  fires  were;  very  nearly  extingiushed  b\'  a 
I'all  of  snow  that  had  siftecl  down  through  the  forest 
while  he  slept.  As  the  ])Oor  lad  discovered  this  he  be- 
came filled  with  terror,  for  he  knew  that  the  back  trail 
was  obliterated,  and  that  all  hope  of  regaining  cam])  by 
its  means  was  cut  off.  Now  he  was  indeed  lost.  As  he 
gazed  hopeless  and  bewildered  about  him  he  caught  sight 
of  something  that  he  at  first  took  to  be  a  doir  sittinu; 
oulv  a  few  yards  awav,  and  regarding  him  hunijrilv. 
lie  spoke  to  it,  and  the  animal  starte<l  to  sneak  away. 


184 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLKDGES 


Tlion  ho  h.iw  U..LI  it  was  :i  wolf,  niul  lio  liastcncd  its 
iiiovc'iiK'iits  with  ;i  ritle-siiot. 

As  it  was  not  yet  liu^lit  enough  to  coiiunonce  his 
st'iirch  for  the;  rivur,  or  for  soinu  stream  tliat  woiiKl 
h'ail  liim  to  it,  he  begati  to  throw  wood  on  tlu;  tires,  tliat 
he  niijfht  at  least  uet  warm  before  sturtiiiLi'.  While 
thus  engaged  he  was  startled  by  a  cry  apparently  in 
the  voice  of  a  child  that  rang  dolefully  througli  the 
silent  forest.  Again  he  lieard  it,  ])laintive  and  long- 
drawn,  and  this  time  nearer  than  before.  It  was  so 
weird  a  cry  to  be  heard  in  that  ])lace  and  at  tliat  time 
that  lie  shuddered  as  he  listened  for  its  repetition.  Its 
very  humanness  added  to  its  terror.  At  its  third  utter- 
ancG  Phil  seized  his  rifle,  cocked  it,  and  faced  the  di- 
rection of  tlie  sound,  expecting  in  another  moment  to 
be  confronted  by  the  tawny  form  of  a  mountain-lion. 


-I  :  I 

it  .  i 

■  III  '    :; 


CHAPTER    XXVIII 


rillL    ASSUMES    A    UKSPOXSIIJILITV 


PiiTL  liad  iiovor  met  nor  even  soon  a  nionnt.ain-lion, 
but  lio  liad  ofton  hoard  tliat  its  crv  somotimos  iinitatos 
tliat  of  a  cliild  so  olosoly  as  to  tloooivo  tlu;  most  export 
of  liiintors.  ITo  liail  lu'ard,  too,  of  its  forocity,  its  hold- 
nossin  attacking  human  l)oin<4S,and  its  torriblo  stroni;tli. 
In  some  resjjocrs  it  is  even  more  to  be  feared  than  that 
monarcli  of  the  North  iVmorican  wihlerness  the  grizzly 
boar,  for  tlu;  formoi',  belonging  to  tlie  cat  family,  is  a 
famous  tree-climber,  uhich  the  latter  is  not. 

Tiiesc^  thoughts,  together  with  all  tiio  stories  ho  had 
ever  read  of  mountaiadions,  flashed  through  the  lad's 
mind  in  the  few  minutes  tliat  elapsed  between  the  iirst 
and  third  of  those  terrible  ei'ies.  IJefore  it  could  utter 
anotlier  the  fearful  l)east  would  be  upon  hiui,and  with 
tense  muscles  he  braced  himself  for  the  coming  eon- 
ilict.  lie  would  not  have;  a  chance  for  more  than  one 
shot.     If  it  failed  him,  all  would  be  lost. 

The  sound  of  the  third  wailing  crv  liad  liardlv  <lied 
away  when,  with  a  gasp  half  of  relief  that  the  sus- 
pense was  emlod,  half  of  dread,  Phil  caught  a  momen- 
tary glimpse  of  a  brown  fui'ry  object  moving  throuL^h 
the  trees.  It  would  next  a])])oar  from  behind  yonder 
clump  of  bushes.  The  rifle  was  slowly  lifteil,  a  delib- 
erate sight  was  taken  along  its  shining  barrel,  and  thou, 
as  the  furry  ol)ject  aj)peared  at  the  j)rociso  ])oint  wlu-re 
it  was  expected,  the  forest  echoed  with  its  ringing  shot, 
lint  the  bullet  had  not  been  allowed  to  fulfil  its  fatal 


n 


ISO 


SNdW-SHOES    AND   SLKDGES 


Tui-'-^ion.  One  hlcsscd  instant  had  been  t^rantctl,  oven 
as  tlie  trigger  was  j)i-esse(i,  in  which  U)  give  tlie  barrel 
a  slight  iiHwanl  jcric,  and  delh'ct  the  ieaden  messenger 
from  its  (h'adly  coui'se. 

Tlie  riile  fi-ll  I'rom  Phil's  nerveless  liaiid,  as  weak 
aiul  faint  he  leaned  against  a  friendly  tree  trunk.  As 
he  stood  there,  staring  with  still  unbelieving  eyes,  a 
little  fur-elad  ehihl,  not  more  than  four  years  old, 
walking  on  the  tiniest  of  snow-shoes,  eame  close  to 
him,  smiled  trustfully  up  in  his  face,  and,  holding  out 
a  small  mittened  hand,  said  : 

"■  Come,  man.    Come  wit"  Nel-te.    ]\Iamma  say  come." 

If  Phil  had  been  nearly  jjaralyzed  with  horror  to  dis- 
cover, as  his  eye  glanced  .-dong  tlu;  levelled  I'iile-barrel, 
that  he  was  aiming  at  a  luunan  being,  lie  was  alriiost 
equally  staggered  at  hearing  the  fur-elad  atom  who 
called  himself  Ncl-te  address  him  in  English.  How 
could  it  be  y  Who  was  he  ;  How  came  he  there, 
alone  in  that  vast  wilderness  of  trackless  forest,  ice, 
and  snow?  Where  had  the  (;hild  spent  the  night  just 
]>assed,  that  had  been  so  iilled  with  terrors  to  him? 
Jfow  had  he  lived  throuii'h  it?  \Vhere  '/cas  his 
mother? 

All  these  (piestions  and  more  ho  asked  the  child  as 
he  sat  on  a  log,  and,  drawing  the  little  one  to  him, 
ga/ed  at  him  as  though  he  Avero  unreal,  and  might  at 
anv  moment  vanisii  ;i,-  mysteriously  as  he  had  come. 

J)Ut  the  child  evidently  had  neither  the  time  nor  the 
inclination  for  explanat'ons.  He  gravely  repelled  all 
the  lad's  friendly  advances,  and  turned  to  go  away,  as 
though  coniidently  expecting  him  to  follow.  As  Phil 
hesitated  for  a  moment  he  looked  back,  and  in  a  voice 
that  had  a  slight  tremble,  together  with  a  lower  lip 
that  (piivered  just  a  little,  he  re])eated  : 

"  Come.     ]\Iamma  say  come." 

And    Phil,  picking   up  his   rille,  followed   after  the 


oven 
)ruTel 

unger 

weak 
.  As 
'yes,  a 
s  old, 
ose  to 
MX  out 

L'oiiie." 
t()  dis- 
•biirrel, 
almost 
in   who 
How 
there, 
L^st,  ice, 
>-ht  just 
()  him? 
cufi    his 

ihihl  as 
|to  him, 
ii'j;hl  :vt 

OtlU'. 

nor  tilt' 
'lied  all 

wav,  as 
lAsVhil 

a  voice 

wer  lip 


"COMK,  MAN.   COMK  WIK  NKI.  TK.   MAMMA  SAY  COMK  " 


fler  the 


rillL    ASSIMKS    A    KKSPOXSIIJIIJTY 


18: 


imlqiio  little  figure  like  one  wlio  is  <1;i/(m1.  .V  li.ippy  smile 
lighted  the  ehild's  I'aee  at  this  c-ompliauee  with  his 
u'ish,  and  after  that  he  ])h:)dde<l  sturdily  onward  with- 
out turning  his  head,  as  though  satisfu'd  that  his  mis- 
sion was  aeeomplished.  After  thus  goinu:  something 
less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  the}'  emerged  from  the 
forest,  and  eame  to  a  log-cabin  standing  on  the  bank 
of  a  ':mall  stream. 

Though  fairly  well  built,  this  cabin  did  not  dilfcr  in 
outward  appearance  from  ordinary  structures  of  its 
kind  in  that  country,  save  that  its  single  glass  window 
was  hung  with  white  curtains.  These  caught  I*hil's 
f\i^  at  once,  but  ere  he  had  time  to  spi-cuhite  concern- 
i!',..,  Jiem  his  little  guide  had  readied  the  door.  Sli})- 
r)ing  oir  the  small  snow-shoes,  he  })usiic'd  it  open  and 
entered.  Phil  followed,  but  had  not  taken  a  single 
step  into  the  interior  ere  he  started  back  in  dismay. 

On  the  floor  close  beside  the  threshold  lay  an  Indian 
— a  tall,  handsome  fellow,  but  with  a  terrible  gash  in 
his  side.  From  it  his  life's  blood  had  evidently  drained 
some  time  before,  for  it  needed  but  a  glance  to  show 
that  he  was  dead. 

From  tliis  startling  sight  the  lad's  ^aze  wandered 
across  tlw  room.  It  caught  the  white  curtains,  a  few 
poor  att.';M;Msat  ornamentation  of  the  walls,  an  empty 
heanl,  >'  .  iilch  was  no  spark  of  tire,  and  then  rested 
on  a  rule  ■  ;  i  in  one  corner,  to  which  the  child  had  just 
run  with  a  ^)^•''ul  cry. 

On  the  b.'d  lay  a  Avoman,  and,  to  PhiTs  utter  amaze- 
ment, sh'  was  a  white  woman,  who  was  feebly  speak- 
inir  tu  him  in  Enu-lish.  Her  bloodless  face,  terril)lv 
emaciated,  was  surrounded  by  a  wealth  of  dark-brown 
hair,  and  luu"  great  eyes  were  iixed  on  iiiin  with  a  piti 
ful  e'.p-erness. 

"T'')rik  (4od  !  thank  God,  sir!''  she  said,  in  a  voici' 
so  nea.'     i  whisper  that  Phil  was  obliged  to  bend  iiis 


188 


SNOW-SirOES    AND    SLKDGES 


;■    J 


r^l  I 


liead  to  catch  the  words.  "Now  tli.it  you've  come,  I 
can  die  in  peace,  for  my  Xel-te  will  he  cared  for.  I 
prayed,  oli,  liow  I  })rayedl  Jiiit  it  seemed  as  if  my 
prayers  were  to  be  of  no  avail,  until  at  lenu^th  tlu;  an- 
swer came  in  the  rei)Ort  of  your  gun.  Then  I  sent  the 
child  to  find  you.  And  oh,  sir,  I  <h)  thank  you  for 
comino;!  I  do  thank  mv  Ileavcnlv  Father  for  sendini»- 
vou.  And  you  will  ear;!  for  my  hahy  ?  You  will  take 
liim  far  from  Inu'e,  wiiere  he  may  grow  to  be  a  good 
and  useful  man?  ^"ou  will,  won't  you,  sir?  Promise 
me  !     Promise  me  }  .      •  "M." 

"J)Ut   you  mustn't  '   atiswered  poor  Phil,  who 

was  so  bewildered  by  tlu'  perplexities  of  the  situation 
tliat  lie  knew  not  what  to  say.  "  I  have  two  comj)aii- 
ions  who  Avill  know  what  to  do  foi-  you,  and  we  will 
stay  until  you  get  str(jnger.  \Miat  does  it  all  mean, 
anyway?    Are  you  wounded  ?    Did  that  Indian  attack 


you 


'ill 


"lie  Avas  my  husbaiul,  my  Jim,"  answei'ed  the  wom- 
an, again  opening  her  eyes,  whicli  had  closed  wearily 
after  her  recent  effort  at  talking.  "  lie  died  for  me, 
and  I  am  dying  for  him." 

Here  she  was  interrupted  by  a  terrible  fit  of  cough- 
ins:  and  a  cjush  of  blood  froni  some  interiuil  hemor- 
rhage. 

After  a  few  minutes  she  continued:  "lie  shot  a 
moose,  and  with  its  last  strength  it  charge<l  on  him. 
When  he  did  not  com(>  home  I  Aveiit  in  search  of 
him.  I  found  them  lying  together.  Jim  still  breathed. 
Somehow  I  managed  to  bring  him  home  on  my  back. 
Jiiit  he  was  dead  when  I  got  him  here,  and  the  strain 
had  been  too  great  for  me.  I  had  burst  a  l)l()od-vessel, 
and  had  barelv  strcnLii:th  to  crawl  to  the  bcH.  "^riiat. 
was  two  days  ao'o.  I  should  have  died  that  first  niijht, 
but  fought  with  death  for  Nel-te's  sake.  Now  I  can 
go,  and  I  a!n  glad,  for  I  am  so  weary — so  weary." 


i 


PHIL    ASSUMES    A     RESPONSIIJILITV 


189 


mo,  T 
)r.  I 
if  my 
u!  an- 
iit  the 
)u  for 
11(1  ing 
I  take 
,  good 
I'omiso 

1,  ^vllo 

nation 

)m|)iin- 

ve  will 
mean, 
attack 

o  woni- 

wcarily 

)r  mo, 

?.ongli- 
lomor- 

sliot  a 

Dn  liini. 

arch  of 

oatluMl. 

T)a('k. 
0  strain 
1-vossol, 

That, 
t  niglit, 
\v  I  can 


'}' 


rv 


51 


Tills  j)ilifnl  story  was  told  in  wliispcrs,  with  many 
i)ansos  and  manv  strnufirics  for  breath.  When  it  was 
iiiiislied  the  great  ])leading  eyes  again  ch)sod,  and  the 
Avonian  lay  so  still  that  IMiil  thonght  she  innst  bo  dead. 
He  tried  to  feel  of  her  ])nlse,  but  started  at  the  touch 
of  iu'r  hand,  for  it  was  like  ice.  The  chill  of  it  seemed 
to  roach  his  very  heart,  and  he  shivered  in  the  deadly 
cold  of  the  room. 

"I  can  at  least  make  a  fire,"  he  thought,  and  ho  began 
to  search  for  matches.  There  wore  none,  and  finally 
bethinkhig  himself  of  the  bla/o  lie  had  loft  in  the 
woods,  lie  sot  forth  to  fetch  tire  from  it.  In  a  few 
minutes  he  returned  with  a  couple  of  burning  brands. 
Then  he  brought  in  wood,  and  after  a  little  the  groat 
fireplace  was  tilled  with  leaping  tiamos. 

Nel-to  came  to  him  and  begged  for  water.  Phil  liad 
noticed  several  times  that  the  child  was  eating  snow, 
and  now  berated  himself  for  not  realizinfj  that  the  lit- 
tie  follow  was  thirstv.  Ho  melted  snow  in  a  kettle, 
and  the  hov  drank  caijorly.  Then  from  some  hiding- 
place  ho  ])roduced  a  smoked  salmon,  that  he  began  to  oat 
ravenously.  After  a  little  he  paused,  looked  hesitating- 
ly at  Phil,  and  then  shyly,  but  with  inborn  hosi)itality, 
hold  out  the  fish  to  his  guest,  saying,  "You  hungry?'' 

"Indeed  I  am,  little  cha[),"  answered  Phil,  who  was 
iust  remeniborlng  how  vorv  hniiixrv  lie  was,  "and  I 
shall  bo  only  too  glad  to  take  a  bite  with  you."  So 
ho  cut  off  a  piece  of  the  fish,  and  as  the  two  ate  their 
strange  meal  in  company  Phil  knew  that  the  little 
stranger  had  won  his  heart  ;  for  never  had  ho  felt  so 
drawn  to  anv  child  as  to  this  one. 

While  they  wore  thus  engaged  the  woman  again 
unclosed  her  eyes,  and  made  a  slight  movement.  Phil 
held  a  cup  of  water  to  lior  lips,  and  she  drank  thirst- 
ily. It  seemed  to  give  her  strength,  for  she  said,  and 
this  time  in  clearer  tones  than  before  : 


r    i-f«  •    .3S5BSHWB 


ifll 


190 


SNOW-SHOES   AND    SLKDOES 


"  You  li.ivo  not  promised  mo,  hul.  But  you  will — I 
know  you  will ;  for  (toiI  has  sent  you  in  ansuer  to  my 
jirayer.s.  You  will  care  for  my  baby,  and  try  to  love 
him,  and  never  let  liim  forget  his  mother.  Y''ou  will 
promise,  and  I  knou-  I  ran  trust  you,  for  you  have  a 
brave  face  and  lionest.     You  will  ])romise  me?" 

"I  do  promise,"  said  Piiii,  solemnly,  "that  if  you 
are  taken  from  your  boy  I  will  care  for  him  to  the  best 
of  my  al)ility,  and  be  to  him  a  brother  and — " 

"That's  enough,  lad.  Xow  hand  him  to  me,  for  I 
canna  see  him.      His  name  is  Nelson  jNIcLeod." 

This  last  came  in  so  faint  a  whisper  tliat  Phil  barely 
caught  the  words;  but  as  he  lifted  the  little  one  to 
the  bed  the  woman  seemed  to  gain  a  new  strength, 
for  she  flung  her  arms  about  the  child,  strained  him 
to  her  breast,  and  kissed  him. 

Then  the  wasted  arms  unclosed.  She  fell  back,  a 
smile  glorified  her  face,  and  the  great  brown  eyes 
opened  for  one  parting  look  at  lier  boy.  In  another 
moment,  with  a  sigh  of  content,  she  fell  into  the  sleep 
that  knows  no  Avaking-;  and  Phil,  recalling  the  long- 
ago  story  <»f  the  missidnary,  knew  that  the  sorrows  of 
Ellen  McLeod  were  ended. 


h     I 


CHAPTER    XXIX 
A    WILDEUXK.SS    OIJI'IIAX 

The  position  in  wliich  PJiil  now  found  himself  wis 
certainly  a  peri)lGxing  one.     By  the  veiy  simple  process 
of  getting  lost  he  had  discovered  Cree  Jim's  cabin,  hut 
was  appalled  to  consider  what  else  he  Jiad  found  at  t!ie 
same  tmie.     He  now  knew  that  the  remainder  of  their 
journey,  its  most  difficult  and  dangerous  j.ortion,  must 
be  undertaken  without  a  guide.     Not  only  this,  but 
they  must  be  burdened  with  a  child  so  young  as  to  be 
practically  helpless.     lu  the  meantime,  whatwas  to  bo 
done   with  tliose  silent  and   motionless  forms  whose 
dread  presence  so  pervaded  that  lonelv  cabin  ?     And 
Jiow  was  lie  to  communicate  with  his  friends'-'     There 
was  no  back  trail  to  follow,  for  the  snow  had  wiped  it 
out.     lie  did  not  even  know  in  which  direction  camp 
.\v  for,  m  the  ardor  of  his  (diase  the  evening  before 
iie  liad  taken  no  note  of  course  nor  distance 

There  was  the  stream,  though,  on  whose  bank  the 
cabin  was  perched.     It  must  flow  into  the  river     Yes 
that  was  his  only  hope.     ]3ut  the  river  might  be  miles 
away,  and  the  camp  as  much  farther  off;  if,  i,„lee(l 
It  could  still  be  found  where  he  ha<l  left  it       Ihit  of 
course  it  would  be  !     So  long  as  Sc-rgc^  Bdcofsky  and 
.Jalap  Coombs  had  life  and  strength  to  search  fo'r  him 
tliat  camp  would  remain  a  permanent  fixture  until  he 
returned  to  it.     PI..:  was  absolutely  sure  of  that,  and 
he  nmy  realized,  as  never  before,  the  priceh^ss  value 
ot  a  friendship  whose  loyalty  is  beyond  doubt 


fr 


I.) -2 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLHDOES 


I  : 


■I'm 


ii!n 


)  1 


So  the  })lau  was  loniicd.  lie  would  go  down  the 
stream  an<l  up  tliu  river  uutil  lie  found  cainp.  Then 
he  would  hi'iutr  Serjjje  and  a  sledijfe  hack  with  him.  In 
the  meantime  the  child  must  he  left  where  he  was, 
for  J'hil  douhted  if  he  could  carry  him  over  the  weary 
miles  tiiat  he  knew  must  lie  hetween  the  cahin  and 
camp,  while  for  the  little  fellow  to  walk  that  distance 
Avas  out  of  the  ({uestion. 

Phil  sat  on  a  stool  heforc;  Ihe  fire  while  doing  all 
this  thinkinsj;.  As  he  rose  to  carry  out  his  })lan,  Xel-tc, 
who  was  hecoming  terrified  at  his  mother's  silence  in 
spite  of  his  efforts  to  attract  her  attention,  slii)ped  from 
the  bed,  ran  to  his  new  friend,  and  thrusting  a  cold 
little  hand  into  one  of  liis,  looked  up  with  a  smile  of 
such  perfect  trust  that  Phil  snatched  him  in  his  arms 
and  kissed  him,  at  the  same  time  giving  him  a  great 
hug. 

Then  lie  said  :  "  Now,  Xel-te,  Brother  Phil  is  going 
awav  for  a  little  while  to  get  some  doggies  for  vou  to 
play  with,  and  you  must  stay  here  like  a  good  boy, 
and  not  open  the  door  until  he  comes  back.  Do  you 
understand  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  mc  go  get  doggies.  Xel-te  like  doggies. 
Good  doggies  !"  And  almost  before  Phil  knew  what 
the  child  was  about,  ho  had  slip])ed  from  his  arms,  run 
to  the  door,  and  was  putting  on  the  tiny  snow-shoes 
that  had  been  left  outside.  Then,  with  an  engaging 
smile,  ho  called,  cheerily,  "Come.  Xel-te  say  come. 
Get  doggies." 

"All  right,  little  cha}).  I  expect  your  plan  is  as 
good  as  mine,  after  all,"  replied  Phil,  into  whose  mind 
had  just  flashed  the  ])romise  made  to  that  dead  moth- 
er— never  to  desert  her  baby.  "  And  here  T  was  about 
to  begin  by  doing  that  very  thing,"  ho  reflected  as  he 
glanced  at  the  marble  face  overspread  by  the  expres- 
sion of  perfeci  content  that  his  promise  had  hroughf. 


1ih 


VI 


nrorieS. 

|ns,  run 
shoes 
aging 
come. 

h  is   as 

|e  mind 

motli- 

about 

as  he 

oxpves- 

h>u2fht. 


A  wii,ih:um;ss  oki-iian 


id;} 


Moved  by  a  suibh'ii  im))ulse  he  picked  up  the  boy, 
and,  bringing  liini  back,  hekl  liini  so  that  Ik;  might 
kiss  the  })eaceful  face.  This  the  chikl  did  witli  a  soft 
cooing  that  served  to  convey  both  love  and  pity.  Then 
he  ran  to  the  stalwart  fiixure  that  still  lav  on  the  floor, 
and,  i)atting  its  swarthy  cheek,  said  something  in  the 
Cree  tongue  that  Phil  did  not  understand. 

After  that  Phil  carefully  closed  the  door  to  ])r(vent 
the  intrusion  of  wild  beasts,  and  the  two,  Avhosc  fort- 
unes had  become  so  strangely  interwoven,  set  forth  to- 
gether down  the  white  surface  of  the  forest-boi'dcred 
stream,  on  whose  bank  Nel-te  had  been  born  and  passed 
his  few  years  of  life.  lie  was  haj)i)ily  but  uncon- 
sciously venturinn;  on  his  first  "little  iournev  into  the 
world,"  while  his  comj)anion  was  filled  with  a  sense 
of  manliness  and  responsibility  from  the  experiences 
tiirough  which  he  had  just  passed  that  the  mere  add- 
ing of  years  could  never  have  brought. 

Phil  wondered  at  the  ease  with  which  the  little  fel- 
low managed  his  snow-shoes,  until  he  rcfiected  that 
the  child  had  probably  been  taught  to  use  them  from 
the  day  of  taking  his  first  step.  So  the  two  fur-clad 
fiirures,  ridiculously  contrasted  in  size,  trucb'ed  alone: 
side  by  side  down  the  wituling  stream,  the  one  thought- 
fully silent  and  the  other  chattering  of  "doggies  "  un- 
til he  began  to  lag  behind  and  give  signs  that  the  pace 
was  telling  on  his  slender  strength. 

"Poor  little  chap!"  said  Phil.  "  P>ut  I  have  been 
expecting  it,  an<l  now  we  will  try  another  scheme." 
So,  slinging  tin;  tiny  snow-shoes  across  the  child's  back, 
he  picked  him  U])  and  set  him  astride  his  own  broad 
shoulders,  whci'e  Nel-te  clutche<l  his  head,  and  shouted 
with  glee  at  this  delightful  mode  of  travel. 

After  they  had  gone  a  mile  or  so  in  this  fashion 
they  roundi'd  a  sharp  bend,  and  came  so  suchlerdy 
upon  poor  Serge,  who   w\as  making  his  way  uj)   the 


'P^^BP 


194 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDtlKS 


B'-  h: 


Rtroam  in  seai'ch  of  some  trace  of  liis  friend,  tliat  for  n 
iiioniciit  lie  stood  inotionless  and  spoecliless  with  aiiiaze- 
nient.  lie  could  make  nothing  of  tlie  ai)proaciiing  a])- 
parition  until  Phil  shouted,  cheerily  : 

"llunah,  old  man  I  Here  we  are,  safe  and  sound, 
and  awfully  glad  to  see  you." 

"  Oh,  Piiil  !"  cried  Herge,  wliile  tears  actually  stood 
in  his  honest  blue  eves,  "I  can  hardly  believe  it  !  It 
seems  almost  too  good  to  be  true.  Arc  you  sure  you 
are  not  wounded  nor  frozen  nor  hurt  in  any  way? 
Haven't  you  suffered  terribly  ?  If  you  haven't,  we 
have.  I  don't  believe  j\Ir.  Coombs  slept  a  wink  last 
night,  and  I  know  I  didn't.  But  I  am  happy  enough 
at  this  minute  to  make  up  for  it  all,  a  hundred  times 
over.     Oh,  Phil  !" 

"  I  have  suffered  a  little  from  anxiety,  and  been  a 
trifle  hungry,  and  had  some  sad  ex))eriences,  but  I 
haven't  suffered  half  so  much  as  I  deserved  for  my 
carelessness  in  getting  lost.  I  found  Cree  Jim,  thounh; 
but—" 

"And  brought  him  with  you  ?"  interrupted  Serge, 
smiling  for  the  first  time  in  many  hoi  rs,  as  he  glanced 
at  the  quaint  little  figure  perched  on  Phil's  shoulders. 

"  Not  exactly,"  replied  the  other,  soberl}-.  "  You 
see  this  little  chap  is  his  son,  and  I've  adopted  him  for 
a  sort  of  a  V)rother,  and  he  is  going  with  us." 

"You've  done  what?"  cried  Serge. 

"Adopted  him.  That  is,  you  see  I  promised  my 
aunt  Ruth  to  bring  her  something  from  Alaska  that 
was  unique  in  the  way  of  a  curio,  and  it  seems  to  me 
that  Nel-te  here  will  please  her  about  as  well  as  any- 
thing.    Don't  you  think  so?" 

"Perhaps  so,"  assented  Serge,  doubtfully.  "But 
was  his  father  willing  that  you  should  iiave  him  ?" 

"  Oh  yes,  perfectly.  That  is,  you  know,  he  is  dead, 
and  so  is  the  mother;  but  I  promised  her  to  take  care 


^r" 


A    WILDKKNKSS    ORl'JIAN 


195 


b  for  a, 
una/c- 
ng  ap- 

soimrl, 

r  stood 
it  !  It 
re  you 
way? 
n't,  we 
nk  last 
enougli 
\  tiuK's 

boon  a 
;,  but  I 
for  my 
though; 

Sorgo, 
o-lancod 
uklors. 
"  You 
him  for 


sod  my 

]ka  that 

is  to  me 

as  any- 


<( 


But 


\\\ 


ov 


lis  < 


load, 
Ike  care 


of  the  little  chap,  and  as  there  wasn't  anything  else  to 
l»o  done,  why,  here  wo  are." 

"Of  course  it's  all  right  if  vou  sav  so,"  anfrood 
Serge,  "  and  I  don't  care,  so  long  as  you  are  safe,  if 
vou  carry  a,  whole  tribe  back  to  your  aunt  Kuth:  but 
now  don't  you  tliink  we'd  better  be  i^ottiiiu'  alonir  to 
camp?  It  was  all  I  could  do  to  ])ersuade  3Ir.  Coombs 
to  stay  behind  and  look  out  for  things;  he  is  so  anxious. 
The-  only  way  I  could  induce  him  to  stay  was  by  sue:- 
gesting  that  you  might  come  in  tired  and  hungry, 
and  would  feel  awfully  if  no  one  Avas  there  to  welcome 
you.  But  he  is  liable  to  set  out  on  a  hunt  for  you  at 
any  moment." 

"Certain!}',  we  must  get  there  as  quickly  as  possi- 
ble," replied"^  Phil.      "  How  far  is  it  ?" 

"Not  more  than  one  mile  uj)  the  river  from  the 
mouth  of  this  creek,  which  is  only  a  few  rods  below 
here.  But  oh,  Phil,  to  think  that  I  have  found  you  ! 
Wlien  I  had  almost  given  up  all  hope  of  ever  again 
seeing  you  alive,  too.  I  have  been  down  as  far  as  our 
first  camp  on  the  river  this  morning,  and  this  crook 
was  my  last  hope.  I  wouldn't  have  left  the  country 
without  you,  though,  or  at  any  rate  without  knowing 
what  had  become  of  you.  Neither  would  Mr.  Coombs. 
We  settled  that  last  night  while  we  talked  over  what 
had  best  be  done." 

"I  was  sure  you  wouldn't,  old  fellow,"  replied  Phil, 
Avith  something  like  a  choke  in  his  voice.  "I  knew 
that  as  Avell  l)efore  you  sai<l  it  as  I  do  now,  and  it  -v  if 
the  thing  that  kept  me  uj)  most  of  all." 

The  two  boys  liad  so  much  to  toll,  and  so  many 
proofs  of  loving  confidence  to  exchange,  that,  before 
they  realized  they  were  any  whore  near  cam))  they  came 
upon  it,  and  w^ere  hailed  by  Jalaj)  Coombs,  who  almost 
huo-rjod  Phil  in  his  revulsion  of  feeling  and  unaffected 
joy  at  the  lad's  return. 


. ,  J-  J^^^ 


ii 


190 


SNOW-SIIOKS   AND   SLKl){iK8 


,•  m  ; 


;•■  I 


im 


'  \ 


"Jitit  you  don't  tlo  it  ag.ain,  Phili|>,  my  son!"  he 
cried.  "  Tiiat  is,  tlio  next  tiiiu!  you  Iccl  iucliiiCHl  to 
wandor  I'roiu  liomo  iuid  stay  out  iii<^lits,  you  may  ^o,  of 
cours(?,  but  you'll  liavo  to  take  me  aloni^.  So  ef  you 
pfits  lost,  I  i^its  lost  likewise  ;  for,  as  my  old  friend 
Kite  Uoberson  useter  say  consarning  prodei^al  sons, 
*It's  alius  touijliest  on  tliem  as  is  left  behind.'  But, 
Pliil,  what  be  ye  doiiiij^  with  that  furry  little  beggar? 
Is  he  the  pilot  ye  went  sarehing  for?" 

"Yes,"  laughed  Phil,  lifting  Xel-te  down  from  liis 
shoulders.  "He  is  the  pilot  who  is  to  lead  us  from 
this  wilderness,  and  if  you  have  got  anything  to  eat, 
you'd  better  give  it  to  him  before  he  devours  one  of 
the  dogs,  whieh  he  seems  inclined  to  do.  I  can  answer 
for  it  that  he  has  been  on  short  rations  for  several 
days  and  is  properly  liungry." 

"Have  I  got  anything  to  eat?"  cried  the  other. 
"  Waal,  rather  !  IIow  does  fresh  steaks,  and  roasts, 
and  chops,  and  stews  strike  your  fancy?"  With  thif 
he  pointed  to  one  side  of  the  camp,  where,  to  their  as- 
tonishment, the  boys  saw  a  quantity  of  fresh  meat, 
much  of  which  was  already  cut  into  thin  strips  for 
freezing  and  packing. 

"Where  did  it  come  from?"  queried  Pliil,  looking 
at  Serge;  but  the  latter  only  shook  his  head,  evidently 
equally  puzzled. 

"  It's  jest  a  bit  of  salvage  that  I  raked  in  as  it  went 
drifting  by,"  explained  Jalap  Coombs,  his  face  beam- 
ing with  gratified  pride.  "  It's  some  kind  of  deer  meat, 
and  for  a  deer  he  were  pretty  nigh  as  big  as  one  of 
iheni  elephants  back  yonder  in  the  moss  cave.  You 
see,  he  came  cruising  along  this  way  shortly  after  Serge 
left,  and  the  dogs  give  chase  and  made  liim  heave  to. 
When  I  j'ined  'em  he  surrendered.  Then  I  had  my 
hands  full  in  a  hurry,  driving  off  the  dogs  and  lashing 
'era  fast  so  as  they  couldn't  eat  liim,  horns  and  all,  and 


( ■ 


■li? 


A    WII.DEHXKSS    ORPHAN 


lo: 


an  !"  he 
HiichI  to 
IV  yo,  of 
>  el"  you 
I  friend 
;al  sons, 
!.'  But, 
bc'^crar  ? 

roni  liis 
us  from 
:  to  oat, 
5  one  of 
1  answer 
■  several 


e  other. 
1  roasts, 
nth  tliif 
their  as- 
di  meat, 
trips  for 

looking 
vidently 


s  it  went 
;e  boam- 
3er  meat, 
s  one  of 
e.  You. 
:er  Serge 
leave  to. 
had  my 
I  lashing 
[  all,  and 


CHAPTER  XXX 


JALAP    AND    THE    DlXiS    SING    A  LULLA.BY 


aii;j 


,  i   t- 


m\ 


i'^ij 


ru 


i 
I 


"IlAitpoo.VKD  a  moose  I"  criod  Phil  and  Serge  to- 
getlioi';  for  they  had  by  this  time  discovered  the  nat- 
ure of  the  sailor's  "  big  deer."  And  "  Where  did  you 
get  the  harpoon  ?"  asked  the  former, 

"  Found  it  leaning  agin  a  tree  while  I  were  ont  after 
firewood,"  rejdied  Jalap  Coombs,  at  the  same  time  pro- 
ducing and  j)roudly  exhibiting  a  heavy  A-yan  spear, 
such  as  were  formerly  used  by  the  natives  of  the  Peily 
river  valley.  "  It  were  a  trifle  rusty,  and  a  trifle  light  in 
the  butt,"  lie  added,  "  but  it  come  in  mighty  handy  when 
it  were  most  needed,  ami  for  an  old  whaler  it  aren't 
a  bad  sort  of  a  weepon.  I'm  free  to  say,  though,  that 
I  might  have  had  hard  luck  in  tackling  the  beast  with 
it  ef  he  hadn't  been  already  wounded.  I  didn't  know  it 
till  after  he  were  dead  ;  but  when  I  eome  to  cut  him  up, 
I  saw  where  he'd  been  bleeding  pretty  free,  and  then 
I  found  this  bullet  in  his  innards.  Still,  I  don't  reckin 
you'd  have  called  hin  a  mouse,  nor  yet  a  rat,  if  ye'd 
seed  him  like  I  uLi  under  full  sail,  with  his  horns  set 
wdng  and  wing,  showing  the  spread  of  a  fifty-ton 
schooner.  Ef  I  hadn't  had  the  liarpoon  I'd  left  hitn 
severely  alone  ;  but  I  allowed  that  a  weepon  as  were 
£Xood  enou2:h  for  a  whale  would  do  for  a  deer,  even  ef 
he  were  biggei'  than  the  run." 

It's  a  rific-bullet,  calibre  fortv-four,"  said  Phil,  who 


(( 


was  examining  the  bit  of  lead  that  Jalap  Coombs  had 
taken  from  his  "big  deer."     ' 


wo 


nder  if  it  can  b 


f-yiji.lfliWMtwmwravgiaJTWWrgasT 


JALAP    AND    TIIK    DOGS    SIXO    A    LULLABY 


199 


n,  iliiit 
with 
low  it 
iin  u]), 
then 
•eckiii 
yc'M 
•ns  sot 
y-ton 
't  bitn 
s  were 
veil  c'f 

I,  Avho 
OS  had 
•an  1)1' 


possible  that  lie  is  tho  same  moose  I  wounded,  and 
without  M'hose  lead  I  should  never  have  found  Cree 
Jim's  cabin.  It  seems  incredible  that  ho  should  have 
come  right  l)ack  to  camp  to  be  killed,  though  I  suj)- 
pose  it  is  possible.  C*ertainly  good  fortune,  or  good 
luck,  or  whatever  else  you  choose  to  call  it,  does  seem 
to  be  pretty  steadily  on  our  side,  and  without  the  aiil 
of  the  fur-seal's  tooth  either,"  he  added,  with  a  sly 
glance  at  Serge. 

The  latter  was  already  hard  at  work  cooking  a  boun- 
tiful su]»ply  of  the  meat  so  wonderfully  ])rovided  for 
them,  while  Nel-te,  who  had  btien  left  to  his  own  de- 
vices for  several  minutes,  had  made  his  way  to  the 
"doggies,"  and  was  rolling  over  and  over  in  the  snow 
with  Musky  and  Luvtuk  and  big  Amook.  Thev  were 
treating  him  exactly  as  they  would  a  frolicsome  pup- 
py, and  their  joyous  l)arkings  were  mingled  with  his 
shrill  screams  of  delight  in  a  ha]ipy  chorus.  The  little 
chap  could  hardlv  be  ])ersuaded  to  leave  his  new  ]day- 
mates  long  enough  to  eat  dinner,  and  returned  to  them 
the  moment  his  appetite  was  satisfieiL 

As  soon  as  the  meal  was  iinished  I'hil  and  Serge 
slijiped  away,  taking  a  sledge,  to  which  was  lashed  a. 
couple  of  axes,  with  them.  They  were  going  back  to 
bury  the  parents  of  the  child,  who  was  so  hajtpily  ob- 
livious of  the  sad  nature  of  tlieir  errand  that  he  did 
not  even  take  note  of  their  departure. 

'^riie  lads  had  no  idea  of  how  they  should  accomplish 
their  sori'owful  task.  EviMi  with  proper  too!  they 
knew  it  would  be  im])ossible  to  dig  a  grav  m  the 
frozen  tjrouiul,  and,  as  they  had  onlv  axes  wiih  which 
to  work,  this  ])lan  was  dismissiMJ  without  discussion. 
'I'hey  talked  ot"  building  a  tomb  of  logs,  but  decided 
that  to  make  it  j>roof  against  wild  be.ists  would  take 
more  time  thai'  they  coidd  alford.  Serge  suggested  a 
scaffold,  on  which  the  bodies  might  be  placed,  in  Iru\- 


200 


snow-siiop:s  axd  hlkdges 


> 


ian  fashion,  wliile  Phil  thought  that,  by  taking  up  tht; 
floor  of  the  cabin,  they  might  find  earth  in  which  they 
could  dig.  lie  couhl  not  bear  tlie  thought  that  one 
wlio  had  been  brought  up  in  tlie  ways  of  civilization, 
and  who  liad  moreovt-r  suffered  as  luid  poor  Ellen 
INIcLeod,  should  have  aught  save  a  Christian  burial  ; 
and  when  lu*  told  S(>rge  the  sad  story  of  her  life  as  he 
had  learned  it  from  the  missionary  at  Anvik,  the  latter 
agreed  with  him. 

So  they  had  not  settled  on  any  })lan  when  they  rfniiid- 
ed  the  last  bend  of  the  little  stream  and  gained  a  point 
from  which  the  cabin  should  have  been  visible,  'riu'ii 
they  saw  .at  a  glance  that  the  task  they  had  been  dread- 
ing had  been  accomplished  without  their  aid.  There 
was  no  cabin  ;  but  a  cloud  of  sjnoke  rising  from  its  site, 
as  from  an  altar,  gave  ample  evidence  of  its  fate.  A 
blazing  log  from  the  tire  Phil  left  on  its  hearth  nuisi 
have  rolled  out  on  the  floor  directly  after  his  depart- 
ure. Now  only  a  heap  of  ashes  and  glowing  embers 
remained  to  mark  the  site  of  Nel-te's  home. 

"It  is  best  so,"  said  Phil,  as  the  two  lads  stood  be- 
side the  smouldering  ruins  of  what  had  been  a  hoi.e 
and  was  now  become  a  sepulchre.  ''  And  oh,  Serge ! 
think  of  what  might  have  been  the  child's  fate  if  I 
liad  left  him  behind,  as  I  at  first  intended.  Poor  little 
chap  !  I  realize  now,  as  never  })efore,  how  conij)letely 
his  past  is  wiped  out,  and  how  entirely  his  future  lies 
in  our  hands.  It  is  a  trust  that  came  witl]out  our  seek- 
ing, but  I  acce})ted  it;  and  now,  besid(.'  his  mother's 
ashes,  I  swear  to  be  true  to  the  ])romise  I  gave  her." 

"Amen!"  said  Serge,  soft ly,  as  though  at  the  con- 
clusion of  a  ])rayer,  and  I'hil  knew  that  the  little  wil- 
derness orphan  had  fouiul  another  friend  who  would 
be  as  loyal  as  hitnself. 

They  j)lanted  a  rude  wooden  cross,  the  face  of  which 
was  chipped  to  a  gleaming  whiteness,  close  in  front  of 


|:'#i( 


JALAP    AND   THE    DUGS    SING    A    LILKAHY 


L'Ol 


llj)   tllO 

•h  tlu'V 
lat  one 
izalinii, 
1-  Ellon 
burial ; 
'o  as  he 
le  latter 

^  rouiHl- 

I  a  |)()iiit 
,     'I'lieii 

II  (Iread- 
Tlu've 

1  its  site, 
fate.  A 
•til  inusl 
■;  (U'part- 
.•  embers 


)0(1  bo- 
a  hui.e 
Serge ! 
ate  il"  I 
)r  little 
upletely 
ure  lies 
ur  seek- 
iiother's 
her. 
he  et)n- 
ttle  Avil- 
o  would 

)f  whieh 
front  of 


tlie  smoulderitiu:  lieap,  and  near  it  Serge  fastened  a 
streamer  of  white  cloth  to  the  tip  of  a  tall  young 
spruce.  Cutting  olT  the  limbs  as  he  descended,  he  lelt 
it  a  slender  pole,  and  thus  provided  the  native  symbol 
of  a  place  of  burial. 

llaviug  thus  done  all  that  was  left  them  to  do,  the 
boys  retractMl  their  way  down  the  little  stream  and  u}> 
tlie  river,  through  the  gathering  dusk,  to  the  cam{) 
that  U)  them  was  home. 

As  they  aj)proaehed  it  they  were  astonished  to  liear 
Jalap  Coombs  singing  in  bellowing  tones  tlie  roUick- 
iiiir  old  sea  chanty  of  "  Uoll  a  .Alan  Down  !" 

"A  flyiiij:f-fi3li-catdu'r  from  old  IIoiig-Koiig — 
Yo  ho!  roll  II,  iiiiui  (iowii — 
A  ilyiiig-fisli-catclier  comes  bowling  along; 
(jivo  us  some  time  to  roll  a  iikui  ilowii, 
Koll  ,1  man  up  and   voll  a  man  down, 
(live  us  some  timo  to  roll  a  man   down. 
From  latibord  to  ;-;tabl)ord  away  we  go — 
Yo  ho!  roll   a  man  down." 

Jalap's  voice  was  not  musical,  but  it  ]»'>>sosse«l  a 
mighty  volume,  and  as  the  <[uaint  sea  chorus  roared 
and  echoed  throuijjh  the  stately  fori'st,  the  verv  trees 
appeared,  to  l)e  listening  in  silent  wonder  to  the  unac- 
customed sounds.  Even  Musky,  Luvtuk,  big  Amook, 
and  the  otlier  dofjs  seemed  hv  their  dismal  howlino;s 
to  be  expressing  either  api)reciation  or  disapjirobat  ion 
of  the  sailor-tuau's  efforts. 

The  performers  in  this  open-air  cdiicert  were  too 
deeply  intent  on  their  own  affairs  to  }>ay  any  heed  to 
the  approach  of  the  returning  sledge  l)arty,  wlio  were 
thus  enabled  to  come  within  full  view  of  a  most  ex- 
traordinary scene  unnoticed.  Just  beyond  the  camp, 
in  a  semicircle,  facing  the  fire,  a  do/en  dogs,  resting  on 
their  haunches,    lifted    bntli    their   voices    and    shu'p- 


202 


SXOW-SIIOKS    AND    SLKDGES 


I   '      » 


]>ointo(l  noses  to  the  sky.  On  the  opposite  side  of  tho 
lire  sat  Jahij)  Coombs,  holding  Nfl-lc  in  his  arms,  fock- 
ing  him  to  and  fro  in  lime  to  the  choi-us  ihal,  he  was 
pouring  forth  with  the  full  )n)\ver  of  liis  lungs,  and  ut- 
terly oblivous  to  everything  save  his  own  unusual  oc- 
cu])ation  of  jjutting  a  baby  to  sleep. 

"lla,  lia,  ha  !  llo,  ho,  ho!"  roared  Phil  and  Serge, 
unable  to  restrain  their  mirth  a  moment  longer.  "  Oh 
my  !  oh  my  !  Oh,  Mr.  Coombs,  you'll  be  the  death  of 
me  vet  !  Whatever  are  vou  doiiiu,-?  Didn't  know  vou 
could  sing  !  ^Vhat  a  capital  nurse  }-ou  make  !  AVhat 
a  soft  voice  foi-  lidlabies  !  'I'he  <logs,  too  !  Oh  dear  ! 
I  shall  laugh  at  the  thought  ot"  this  if  1  live  to  be  a 
liundred  !  Don't  mind  us,  though.  Iveej)  right  on. 
I'lease  do  !" 

liut  the  concert  was  ended.  Jala])  Coombs  sprang 
to  his  feet  with  a  startled  yell,  and  dropped  the  child, 
who  sci-eamed  with  the  fright  of  his  sudden  awaken- 
ing. The  dogs,  whose  harmonious  liowlings  were  so 
abruptly  interru})ted,  slunk  away  with  tails  between 
their  legs,  ami  hiil  themselves  in  deepest  shadows. 

"There,  there,  little  chaj)  !  Don't  be  frightened," 
crii'tl  Phil,  darting  forward  and  picking  u)i  the  child, 
though  still  shaking  with  laughtei".  "It's  all  right 
now.  Jirother  l^hil  will  ])rotect  you,  and  not  let  the 
big  man  frighten  you  any  more." 

"  I  frighten  him  indeed  !"  retortecl  Jalap  Coombs,  in- 
dignantly. "He  was  sleeping  cpiiet  and  jK'aeefuI  as  a  seal 
pup;  ami  I  Avere  jest  humming  a  bit  of  a  ditty  that 
useter  be  sung  to  me  when  I  v,  cn-e  ;^  kid,  so's  he'd  have 
something  ])leasant  to  drea'u  about.  Then  you  young 
swabs  had  to  come  creeping  up  and  yell  like  a  couple 
of  wihl  hoodoos,  and  set  tlu'  dogs  to  howling  and  scnvo. 
the  kid,  to  sa\^  nothing  of  me,  which  el"  I  had  ve  aboai'd 
shi})  I'd  masthead  ye  both  till  ye  lai'ut  nnmners,  Oii, 
yo  nniy  snicker  !     But  I  have  my  opinion  all  the  same 


of  tho 
,  roc-k- 
10  \v;is 
Liul  ut- 
ual  oc- 

"Oh 
eath  of 
)\v  von 
What, 
1  (U'ar  ! 
to  hv  a 
L»-ht  vn. 

sprang 
e  chiKl, 
iwakcn- 
wcro  so 
e  twee  II 
\vs. 

teiicd,'' 

I   chUd, 

1    right 

let  the 


inbs,  in- 
;is  a  seal 
tty  that 

'(1  liavo 
u  young 
couple 

1(1  scare 
aboard 

s.     Oh, 

\\o  same 


L' 


■  i' .  t 

i'il; 

,1    ' 
t    ' 


";li;ai 


JALAP    AND    THE    DOGS    SING    A    LULLABY 


203 


of  any  man  as  'U  Avakc  a  sleo})iiig  chiKl,  specially  when 
he's  woi'o  out  with  crviiiu",  all  on  account  of  bcinir  dc- 
sarted.  And  I'm  not  the  only  one  nuther.  There  was 
old  Kite  Koberson  iisoter  claj)  a  muzzle  onto  liis  wife's 
canary  whenever  sheM  get  the  kids  to  sleep,  for  fear 
the  critter  'd  bust  into  sini^insx.  IJut  it's  all  riizht. 
You'll  know  how  it  is  yourselves  some  day." 

Pliil,  seeing  that,  for  the  first  time  since  he  had 
known  liim,  the  mate  was  thoroughly  indignant,  set 
out  to  smooth  his  rufiled  feelings. 

"Why,  Mr.  Coombs,"  he  said,  "  Ave  didn't  mean  to 
startle  3'ou,  but  those  wretclied  dogs  kept  up  such  a 
howling  that  we  couldn't  make  ourselves  jieard  as  we 
neared  camp.  I'm  sure  I  don't  see  how  you  could 
think  we  were  lauixhiuuc  at  vou.  It  was  those  absurd 
dogs,  and  you'd  have  laughed  yourself  if  you'd  looked 
up  and  seen  them,  I'm  sure  it  was  awfully  good  of 
you  to  take  so  much  trouble  ovei*  this  little  fellow,  and 
put  him  so  nicely  to  sleep  with  your  sing — I  mean 
with  your  humming,  though  I  assure  you  we  didn't  hear 
a  hum." 

"Waal,"  replied  Jalai)  Coombs,  somewhat  mollitied 
by  Phil's  attitude,  "I  warn't  humming  very  loud,  not 
nigh  so  loud  as  I  Iiad  been  at  fust.  Ye  see,  I  were 
kinder  tapering  off  so  as  to  lay  the  kid  <h)\vn,  and  bo- 
gin  to  get  sui)per  'gainst  you  kim  back." 

"  Yes,  I  see,"  said  Phil,  almost  choking  with  sup- 
pressed laughter.  "  IJut  how  did  it  happen  that  j-ou 
were  compelled  to  act  as  nurse?  The  little  cha}) 
seemed  hap])y  enough  when  we  went  away." 

"  So  he  were,  t.U  he  found  you  was  gone.  Then  he 
begun  to  pii)e  his  eye  and  set  storm  signals,  and  di- 
rectly it  come  on  to  blow  a  hurricane  with  heavy 
s([ualls.  So  I  had  to  stand  by.  Fust  off  I  thought  the 
masts  would  surely  go  ;  but  I  took  a  reef  here  and 
there,  and  kinder  got  things  snugged  down,  till  after 


204 


SNOW-SirOKS   AND   SLEDGES 


■■ .  "l.  if:; 

^  ■  1:1 


H  I 


a  "while  tlie  sky  broke,  tlie  sun  kiiii  <)nt,.iii(l  fair  weatli- 
er  sot  in  once  more." 

"Well,"  said  Phil,  a(lmirino:ly,  "  you  certainly  acted 
with  the  judgment  of  an  A  No.  1  seaman,  and  I  don't 
believe  even  your  esteemed  friend  Captain  Kobinson 
could  have  done  better.  We  shall  call  on  you  wiien- 
ever  our  little  pilot  gets  into  troubled  waters  again, 
and  feel  that  we  are  placing  him  in  the  best  possible 
hands." 

At  which  ))raise  Jalaj)  Coombs  was  greatly  pleased, 
and  said  as  how  he'd  be  proud  at  all  times  to  stand  by 
the  kid.  Thus  on  the  same  day  that  little  Xel-te  Mc- 
Leod  lost  liis  parents  he  found  a  brother  and  two 
stanch  friends. 


tf: 


\  ■'<    'Mi 


ir  weath- 


ilv  acted 
1  i  don't 
.iobinson 

)U  wllC'Il- 

rs  again, 
possible 

pleased, 
stand  by 
L'l-te  Mc- 
find   two 


h 


CHAPTER  XXXI 
NEL-TE    QUALIFIES    AS    A    r.nANCII    PILOT 

Although  disappointed  of  their  rr„iao,  there  was 
notlung  for  the  sledge  party  to  do  but  piisli  on  and 
trust  to  their  own  good  judgment  to  carry  them  safely 
to  the  end  of  their  journey.  So  as  much  of  the  moose 
meat  as  could  be  loaded  on  a  sledge,  or  several  hun- 
dred pounds  m  all,  was  prepared  and  frozen  that  even- 
ing. Both  then  and  in  the  morning  the  do<rs  were 
given  all  they  could  eat— so  much,  in  fact,  that  they 
were  greatly  disinclined  to  travel  during  most  of  the 
iollowing  day. 

The  latest  addition  to  the  partv,  after  being  rudelv 
awakened  from  the  slumber  into  which  Jala))  Coombs^s 
singmg  had  lulled  him,  called  pitifully  for  his  mother 
and,  refusmg  to  be  comforted,  finally  sobbed  hlmsolf 
to  sleep  on  Phil's  bear-skin  in  front  Jf  the  fire.     Here 
he   spent   the   night,  tucked  Avarmly  in   a  rabbit-^kin 
robe,  nestled  between  Phil  and  Serge  with  all  his  sor- 
rows forgotten  for  the  time  beincr.    J,,  the  early  morn- 
ing he  was  a  very  sober  little  lad,  with  a  grievance 
that  was  not  to  be  banished   even  bv  the  sio-jit  of  his 
beloved  'Moggies,"  while  the  advances  of  his  human 
friends  were  met  by  a  dignified  silence.     lie  was  too 
hungry  to  refuse  the  foo.l  offered  him  l>v  Ser-e  •  but 
he  ate   it    with   a  strictly   business-like   air,  iii^  which 
there  was  nothing  of  unbending  nor  for<;iveness.     To 
Phil's  attemi)ts  at  conversatioiriie  turned  a  deaf  ear, 
nor  would   he    even    so    much    as   smile    when  Jalap 


206 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLKDGES 


Coombs  made  f;iC'os  at  liim,  or  a;ot  down  on  hands  and 
knocs  and  growled  for  his  sj)e('ial  benefit.  lie  Mas 
evidently  not  to  be  won  ])y  any  such  foolishness. 

He  was  roused  to  an  exhil)ition  of  slight  interest  by 
the  tinkling  music  of  Muskv's  bells  wlien  the  dotrs 
were  harnessed;  and  when,  everything  being  ready  for 
.1  start,  Pliil  lifted  liim  on  the  foremost  sledge,  and 
tucked  him  into  a  spare  sleei)ing-bag  that  was  securely 
lashed  to  it,  he  murmured  :  "Mamma,  Nel-te  go  main- 


ma 


u 


The  loads  having  been  redistributed  to  provide  for 
tlie  accommodation  of  the  young  jiassenger,  this  fore- 
most sledge  bore,  besides  Nel-te,  only  the  Forty  Mile 
mail,  the  sleeping  equipment  of  the  party,  and  tlieir 
extra  fur  clothing,  the  chynik,  in  which  was  stored  the 
small  quantity  of  tea  still  remaining,  what  was  left  of 
tbe  ])emmican,  and  an  axe.  As,  with  its  load,  it  did 
not  weigh  over  two  hundred  ])ounds,  its  team  was  re- 
duced to  three  dogs,  ]Musky,  Luvtuk,  and  big  Amook. 
Serge  still  drove  seven  dogs,  and  his  sledge  bore  the 
entire  cam|)  equipment  and  stock  of  provisions,  except 
the  recently  acquired  moose  meat.  This  was  loaded 
on  the  last  sledge,  which  was  drawn  by  five  dogs,  and 
driven  by  Jalap  Coombs  according  to  his  own  peculiar 
fashion. 

As  soon  as  the  sledges  Avere  in  motion,  and  Xel-te 
conceived  the  idea  that  he  was  going  home,  his  spirits 
revived  to  such  an  extent  that  he  chirruped  cheerfully 
to  the  dogs,  and  even  smiled  occasionally  at  Phil,  who 
strode  alongside. 

They  crossed  Fox  Lake,  passed  up  the  stream  that 
connected  it  with  Indian  Trail  Lake,  and  finally  went 
into  camp  on  the  edge  of  the  forest  at  the  head  of  the 
latter  earlier  than  usual,  because  they  could  not  see 
their  way  to  the  making  of  any  further  progress.  Al- 
though they  felt  certain  that  there  must  be  some  stream 


ids  and 
Ic;  was 

rest  Ly 
0  doti's 
idv  tor 
[^c,  and 
L'curely 
3  mani- 

ido  for 
is  fore- 
ty  Mile 
d  their 
red  tlic 
,  left  of 
,  it  did 
was  re- 
(Vniook. 
ore  the 
except 
loaded 
n^s,  and 
)eculiar 

Nel-te 

spirits 

'erfully 

lil,  who 

HI  that 
y  went 
of  the 
not  see 
s.  Al- 
stream 


NEL-TK    U(  AI.IKIKS    AS    A    niiANCH    PII.OT 


207 


flowini^  into  the  lake  by  which  they  conld  leave  it, 
thev  could  discover  no  siufii  of  its  openinLj.  So  thev 
made  camp,  and,  leaving  Jalap  Coombs  to  care  for  it, 
Vliil  and  Serge  departed  in  opposite  directions  to  scan 
every  foot  of  the  shore  in  search  of  a  pince  of  exit. 

On  reaching  this  camping-place  Xcl-te  looked  about 
him  in([uiringly  and  with  evident  disaj»pointtnent,  but 
he  said  nothinir,  and  onlv  gazed  wistful! \'  after  the  two 
lads  when  they  set  forth  on  their  search.  l''or  a  time 
he  hung  about  the  camp-tii'e  watching  Jalap  Coombs, 
who  was  too  busily  engaged  in  cooking  supper  and 
preparing  for  the  night  to  ])ay  much  attention  to  him. 
At  length  the  little  chap  strolled  over  to  the  sledges, 
and  engaged  in  a  romp  with  the  three  dogs  who  dragged 
liis  i)articular  convevance.  Kverv  now  and  then  his 
shrill  laughter  came  to  Jalap's  ears,  and  assured  the 
latter  that  the  child  was  safe. 

After  a  while  the  explorers  returned,  both  completely 
discouraged  and  perplexed. 

"I  don't  believe  there  is  any  inlet  to  this  wretched 
lake  !"  cried  Phil,  Hinging  himself  down  on  a  ])il(?  of 
robes.  "  I've  searched  every  foot  of  coast  on  my  side, 
and  am  willing  to  swear  that  there  isn't  an  o])ening 
big  enough  for  a  rabbit  to  squeeze  through,  so  far  as  I 
went." 

"Nor  could  I  find  a  sign  of  one,"  aftirmed  Serge, 
"though  perha})S  in  the  morning — " 

"  Hello  !  Where's  Nel-te  '?"  intcrru])ted  Phil,  spring- 
ino:  to  his  feet  and  ufazini;  about  him  anxiously. 

"He  were  about  here  jest  as  you  boys  kim  in,"  re- 
plied Jala])  Coombs,  siis])ending  operations  at  the  fire, 
and  gazing  about  him  with  a  startled  ex])ression.  "I 
heered  him  playing  ^s■ith  the  dogs  not  niore'ii  a  minute 


airo. 


"Well,  he  isn't  in  sight  now,"  said  l^hil,  in  a  voice 
whose  tone  betrayed  his  alarm,  "and  if  we  don't  tind 


2I1S 


SXOW-SIIOES    AND   sm;i)(;ks 


liim  in  a  liurry  there's  a  cliaiice  of  our  not  (loing  it  at 
all,  lor  it  will  l)e  dark  in  fifteen  iiiiiHites  more." 

As  lie  sj)oke,  Phil  iiastily  replaced  tiic  snow-slioes 
that  ho  liad  just  laid  aside.  Ser<j^e  did  tlie  same  thinj,', 
and  then  thev  l)ei'an  to  eiroio  about  tlic  canii)  with 
lieads  bent  low  in  search  of  the  tiny  trail.  At  short 
intervals  they  called  aloud  tin;  name  of  the  missing 
one,  hut  onlv  tlu*  inockin<4  forest  eclioes  answered 
them. 

Suddeidv  Sercje  nttered  a  iovful  sliout.  lie  had 
found  th<!  prints  of  small  snow-shoes  crossed  and  re- 
crossed  by  those  of  dojjjs.  In  a  moment  Phil  joined 
him,  and  the  two  followed  the  trail  together.  It  led 
for  a  short  distance  .along  the  border  of  the  lake  in  the 
direction  previously  taken  by  Phil,  and  then,  making  a 
shar|»  bend  to  the  right,  struck  dii-ectly  into  the  forest. 

When  the  boys  reached  the  edge  of  the  timber  they 
found  a  low  o{)ening  so  overhung  by  buslies  as  to  be 
effectually  concealed  from  careless  observation.  The 
curtaining  growth  was  so  bent  <b)wn  with  a  weight  of 
snow  that  even  Xel-te  must  have  stooped  to  pass  under 
it.  That  he  had  gone  that  way  was  shown  by  the  trail 
still  dimlv  visible  in  the  growing  dusk,  and  the  lads 
did  not  hesitate  to  follow.  Forcing  a  ])ath  through 
the  buslies,  which  extended  only  a  few  yards  back 
from  the  lake,  they  found  themselves  in  an  open  high- 
way, evidently  the  frozen  surface  of  a  stream. 

"Hurrah  !"  shouted  Phil,  who  was  the  first  to  gain 
it.  "I  believe  this  is  the  very  creek  we  have  been 
searching  for.  It  must  be,  and  the  little  chap  has 
found  it  for  us," 

"  Yes,"  re]»lied  Serge.  "  It  begins  to  look  as  though 
Cree  Jim's  son  had  taken  Cree  Jim's  ]dace  as  guide." 

Now  the  boys  pushed  forward  with  increased  speed. 
At  length  they  heard  the  barking  of  dogs,  and  began 
to  shout,  but  received  no  answer.     They  had  gone  a 


NEL-TE   QUALIFIES   AS   A    IJUAKCII    I'lLoT 


2UU 


iriir  it  at 

3\V-sllO0S 

le  tliinjjf, 
tni)  with 
\t  sliort 
missing 
Liiswered 

lie  liad 
uiid  ro- 
il joined 
It  led 
ko  in  tl»o 
nakiiii^  a 
le  forest, 
ber  tliey 
as  to  be 
)n.     The 
I'eiglit  of 
ss  under 
the  trail 
le  lads 
through 
ds  back 
en  high- 


to  gam 
vo  been 
hap  has 

;  thonjjh 
n-nide." 
I  speed. 
d  began 
gone  a 


full  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  lake  cro  they  cauglit 
sight  of  the  little  fur -clad  figure  plodding  stt'adily 
forward  on  what  ho.  fondly  hoped  to  be  his  way  tow- 
ards home  and  the  mother  lor  whom  his  baby  heart  so 
longed.  Musky,  Luvtuk,  and  big  Amook  were  liis 
companions,  and  not  until  he  w:iis  caught  rp  in  I  Mill's 
arms  did  the  child  so  much  as  turn  his  head  oi-  pay  the 
slightest  heed  to  those  who  followe(l  his  trail. 

As  he  was  borne  back  in  triumph  towards  /'amji  his 
lower  lip  quivered,  and  two  big  tears  rollecl  down  his 
chubby  cheeks,  but  he  did  not  cry  nor  utter  a  com- 
l>laint ;  nor  from  that  time  on  did  he  make  further 
elTort  to  regain  his  lost  houiC.  The  boys  had  hardly 
begun  to  retrace  their  steps  when  another  figure 
loomed  out  of  the  shadows  and  came  rapidly  towards 
them.  It  looked  Imge  in  the  dim  light,  and  advanced 
with  gigantic  strides. 

"Hello!"  cried  Phil,  as  he  recognized  the  new- 
comer.    "  Where  arci  you  bound  ?" 

"  IJound  to  get  lost  along  with  the  rest  of  the  crew," 
rci»lied  Jalap  Coombs,  stoutly.  "Didn't  I  tell  ye  I 
wouldn't  put  u)>  with  your  gettin'  lost  alone  ag'in  ?" 

"That's  so;  but  you  see  I  forgot,"  laughed  Phil. 
"Now  that  we  are  all  found,  though,  let's  get  back  to 
the  supper  that  3'ou  were  cooking  before  you  decided 
to  get  lost.  By  the  way,  3Ir.  Coombs,  do  you  realize 
that  this  is  the  very  stream  for  which  we  have  l)een 
hunting?  What  do  vou  think  of  our  voung  pilot  now':'" 

"Think  of  him!"  exclaimed  Jalap  Coombs.  "I 
think  he's  jest  the  same  as  all  in  the  ])iloting  business — 
])ernicketty.  Knows  a  heap  more'n  \w'\\  ever  tell,  and 
won't  ever  p'int  out  a  channel  till  you're  just  about  to 
run  aground.  Then  he'll  do  it  kinder  keerless  and  on- 
consarned,  same  as  the  kid  done  jest  now.  Oh,  he's  a 
regular  branch  pilot,  he  is,  and  up  to  all  the  tricks  of 
the  trade." 

14 


m 


210 


SNOW-SIIOLS    AXI)    SLEDGES 


¥  » 


]>riii:lit  and  cirlv  tlie  followinGf  mornin<>-,  tlianks  to 
Nt'1-te's  j>iIotai,''i',  the  slcdoes  wcru  specdiiiuj  up  tliu 
creek  on  iheii'  way  to  Lost  Laki',  By  nightfall  ihey 
had  crossed  it,  tiu'ee  other  small  lakes,  descended  an 
outlet  of  the  last  to  Little  Salmon  Rivei',  and  after  a 
run  of  live  miles  down  that  stream  found  themselves 
on(M'  more  amid  the  ice  hummocks  of  the  Yukon,  one 
liundred  and  twenty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Pclly.  Of  this  distance  they  had  saved  about  one- 
third  by  their  adventurous  cut-off. 

The  end  of  another  week  found  thefn  one  Iiundi'eil 
and  lifty  miles  farther  u)>  the  Yukoti  and  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Tahkeena.  It  had  been  a  week  of  the  rousjjhest 
kind  of  travel,  and  its  hard  work  was  telliuij:  severelv  on 
the  dogs. 

As  thev  made  their  last  camp  on  the  mighty  river 
they  wore  to  leave  for  good  <in  the  mori'ow,  they  ^\•('re 
both  glad  and  sorrv.  (xlad  to  leave  its  rouii'h  ice  and 
escape  the  savage  difficulties  that  it  offei'ed  m  the 
sliapo  of  canons  and  roaring  rapids  oidy  a  few  miU>s 
above,  and  sorry  to  desert  its  well-marked  course  for 
the  little-known  Tahiveena. 

Still,  their  dogs  could  not  hold  out  for  another  week 
on  the  Vukon,  while  over  the  smooth  going  of  the 
tributary  stream  thev  might  survive  the  hardshins  of 
the  journey  to  its  very  end;  and  without  these  faith- 
ful servants  our  ti'avellei's  would  indeed  be  in  a  sorry 
rtlight.  So, while  thev  reminisced  before  their  roariii"* 
cam))-fire  of  the  many  adventures  they  had  encoun- 
tered  since  entering  Yi:kon  mouth,  two  thousand  miles 
away,  they  looked  hoj>efully  forward  to  their  journey's 
end,  no\v  less  than  as  many  hundred  miles  from  that 
point.  To  the  dangeivs  oi'  the  lofty  mountain  I'ange 
they  had  yet  t<>  cross  they  gave  but  litth?  thought,  for 
the  mountains  were  still  one  hundred  miles  awav. 


thanks  to 
<j;  up  tilt! 
,{"all  llicy 
h'IkIimI  an 
1(1  after  a 
K'lnst'lvcs 
iikon,  ono 
h  of  the 
bout  oiie- 

!  liundred 
he  mouth 
1  rousihest 
jverely  on 

ditv  river 
they  Avere 
li  ice  aiul 
'd  in  the 
few  inlh's 
ourso  for 

lier  week 
i<X  of  tlie 
■dshijis  of 
ese  faith- 
n  a  sorry 
ir  roariii!^ 
I  eiKMXui- 
!iiid  niih's 
journey's 
rom  that 
tin  ranij^e 
»u<xlit,  for 
\v;i\ , 


ClIAPTEIl  XXXII 
THE    FUR-SEAlAs    TOOTH    (KEATES    A    SENSATION 

OxE  evening  late  in  March  the  smoke  of  a  lonely 
canip-iire   curle.l   above   ;.   frin.Lje    of    stunted    spruces 
fomung  the  timl)erdine  higli  up  on  the  northern  slope 
oi  the  Alnskan  coast  range.     Kotnsk,  the  natives  call 
these  mountains.      Far  bdow  lay  the  spotless  sheet  of 
Takh   Lake,  from  which    the  Tahkecna   winds   for  one 
hundred   miles    down    its   ruggtMl    vallev   to    swell   the 
Vukon  tlood.     From  the  foot  of  the  mo'untains  the  lui- 
l'r.d<en  solitude^  of  the  vast  northern  wihleriiess  swept 
away  in  ice-bound  silence  to  the  polar  sea.     Far  to  the 
westward  St.  Flias  an.l   AVrangel,  the  great  northern 
sentinels  of  the   Rocky  .Mountain  .system,  reared  their 
massive  heads  nearly  twenty  thousand  feet  above  the 
racific.     From  them  the  mighty  range  of  snow-clad 
peaks  follows  the  coast  line  eastward,  irathering  with 
icy  fingers  the  mist  clouds  ever  rising  from  the^varm 
ocean  waters,  converting  them  with  frigid  breath  into 
the    grandest   glaciers  of  the   continent,  and    sendin- 
these  slowly  grinding  their  resistless  wav  back  to  the 
sea. 

On  one  side  of  this  stupendous  barrier  our  sledLTO 
party  from  the  Yukon  was  now  halted.  ()„  the  other 
I.iy^the  frontier  of  civili/al  ion,  safety,  and  their  joui- 
m-y's  end.  between  the  two  points  n)se  the  mountains, 
(•alnily  contemptuous  of  liuman  efVorls  to  penetrate 
their  secrets  of  avalanche  and  glacier,  icv  precipice 
•md    snow-filled   gorge,  fierce   bli/zan.   and  ice-ja.lcn 


HI 


212 


SNOW-SIIUES    AND    SLEDULS 


.1    ■  :i 


whirl  wind,  desolation  and  doatli.  It  is  no  wonder  that, 
face  lo  face  witli  such  things,  the  little  grou[),  gathered 
about  the  last  cain)>(ire  they  might  see  for  days  or 
or  perhaps  forever,  should  be;  unu;..ially  (piiet  and 
thoughtful. 

Still  clad  in  their  well-worn  garments  of  fur,  they 
were  engage(l  in  charaeteristie,  occupations.  Phil,  look- 
iuLT  anxious  and  carewoi'n,  was  standing  close  to  the 
lire  warming  and  cleaning  his  rifle.  Sei'ge  was  making 
a  stew  of  the  last  of  their  moose  meat,  mIucIi  would 
afterwards  be  frozen  and  taken  with  them  into  untim- 
bered  regions  where  camp-fires  would  be  unknown. 
.Tahn)  Coombs  was  thouLiditfullv  mentlini;  a  broken 
snow-shoe,  and  at  the  same  time  finding  his  task  sadly 
interrupted  by  Nel-te,  who,  nestled  between  his  knees, 
was  trying  to  attract  the  sailor-man's  undivided  atten- 
tion. 

The  little  chaj),  with  his  great  sorrow  forgotten,  was 
now  the  life  and  jtet  of  the  ])arty.  So  firmly  was  his 
j)lace  established  among  theni  that  they  wondered  how 
they  liad  ever  borne  the  loneliness  of  a  cam])  without 
liis  clieery  ])resence,  and  could  hardly  realize  that  he 
had  only  recently  come  into  their  lives.  Xow,  too, 
half  the  anxiety  with  v,hich  they  regarded  the  peril- 
ous way  ))efore  tliem  was  on  his  account. 

"I'm  worrying  most  about  the  dogs,''  said  Phil,  con- 
tinuinuf  a  conversation  be<2:un  some  iiuie  before,  ''and 
1  am  afrnid  some  of  them  will  give  owX,  before  we 
reach  the  sumnnt," 

"  Yes,"  agreed  Serge;  "to-day's  ]»ull  up  from  the 
lake  has  told  teri'ibly  on  them,  and  Amook's  feet  have 
been  badly  (uit  by  the  crust  ever  since  lie  ate  his  l)oots." 

"  Poor  old  dog  !"  said  Phil.  "  It  was  awfully  care- 
less of  me  to  foi'u^et  and  leave  them  on  hitn  all  nifjlit. 
I  don't  wonder  a  bit  at  his  eating  them,  thougli,  con- 
sidering the  short  rations  he's  been  fed  ow  lately." 


ler  that, 
jatlicrcd 
days  or 
liet   ;ui(l 

iir,  tlu'V 
lil,  look- 
3  to  llio 
makiiiij^ 
li  would 
)  untiiii- 
iknowii. 
broken 
sk  sadly 
is  knees, 
,'(1  atten- 

tcn,  was 

was  his 

rc(l  how 

without 

that  he 

OW,  loo, 


le 


peril- 


lil,  con- 
■o,  ''and 
fore    we 

rom  the 
■et  have 
;  hoots." 
ly  eare- 
11  "night. 
L'h,  con- 


■^'ly 


. " 


TUT']    FUK-SEAl/s    TOOTH    CKK.VrKS    A    SEXSATIOX     21 H 

'^I'he  dogs  were  iudeed  havinix  a  hard  time.  AVorn 
hv  months  of  sJedge-pulliuij  over  "weary  leasrues  of 
snow  and  ice,  their  trials  only  increased  as  the  tedious 
journey  progressed.  The  days  were  now  so  long  tliat 
eacli  offered  a  full  twelve  liours  of  sunlight,  while  the 
snow  was  so  softened  bv  the  growing  warmth  that  in 
the  middle  of  the  day  it  seriously  clogged  both  snow- 
shoes  atid  sledges.  Then  a  crust  would  form,  throufrh 
which,  the  poor  dogs  would  break  for  an  hour  or  more, 
until  it  stift'ened  sutticiently  to  bear  their  weight, 
jVdded  to  these  tribulations  was  such  a  scarcity  of 
food  that  half-rations  had  become  the  rule  for  every 
one,  men  as  well  as  dogs,  excepting  Nel-te,  who  had 
not  yet  been  allowed  to  suifer  on  that  account.  Of 
the  many  dogs  that  had  been  connected  with  the 
expedition  at  dilferent  times  oidy  nine  were  now 
left,  and  some  of  these  woidd  evidently  not  go  much 
farther. 

As  the  boys  talked  of  the  condition  of  these  trusty 
servams,  and  exchanged  anxious  forebodings  concri-n- 
ing  the  crossing  of  the  mountains,  their  attention  was 
attracted  by  an  exclannition  from  Jala})  Coombs. 
Nel-te  had  been  so  insistent  in  ilemanding  his  atten- 
tion that  the  saiior-man  was  finally  obliged  to  lay  aside 
his  work  and  lift  the  cliild  to  his  knees,  savinix, 

*'  Waal,  Cap'n  Kid,  wliat's  the  orders  now,  sir?" 

"  Cap'n  Kid  "'  was  the  name  lie  liad  given  to  the  lit- 
tle fellow  on  the  occasion  of  the  latter's  debut  as  ])ilot ; 
for,  as  he  said,  "  Every  branch  ])ilot  answers  to  the  hail 
of  cap'n,  and  this  one  being  a  kid  becomes  '  Caj)'n  Kid  ' 
by  rights." 

For  answer  to  his  question  the  child  held  out  a 
small  furd)ooted  foot,  and  intimated  that  the  boot 
should  be  pulled  off. 

"  P>ad  foot,  hurt  Nel-te,"  he  said. 

"So  !  something  gone  wrong  with  your  rmming  rig- 


214 


SXO\V-SI!()i:s    AM)    Sr.KIXiES 


ll    ' 


o;'niU-,  ell'-'"  (incricd  Jalnji  Coombs,  as  lie  ymllcd  off  the 
oll'ciidint;"  boot.  Ik'fon'  lie  could  iii\cst  i'i'at  i'  it  tlio 
little  (diap  roacluMl  i'oi-ward,  ami,  llini^tiiiL;'  a  cliubby 
liand  down  to  its  very  toe,  drew  I'ortli  in  i  riiimph  tlio 
object  that  liad  been  ainio}'iiiu,'  liiin.  As  he  iiiatle  a 
luolioii  to  Hiiii;'  it-  out  into  the  snow,  .lalaj)  Coombs, 
out  of  cui'iosity  to  see  what  h.ul  worried  tlio  child, 
caught  liis  lumd.  Tiie  next  moment  he  uttered  the 
liair-teiM-ilie<l  exciaiiiation  that  attracted  the  attention 
of  Piiil  and  Sei'o-e. 

As  tliey  lookt'd  they  saw  liim  holding  to  the  hrelioht 
between  thumb  and  iini"-ei-,  and  beyond  I'each  of  Nel-te, 
who  was  strivini;'  to  rei^ain  il,an  object  so  strauLje  and 
vet  so  familiar  that  for  a  moment  thev  regarded  it  in 
speed dess  amajcemerit. 

''The  fur-seal's  tootli  !"  cried  I'hil.  "How  can  it 
bo  ?" 

"It  can't  be  our  fur-seaTs  tooth,"  o])jecte<l  Sei'sre,  in 
atone  of  minL;-h'd  incredulity  and  awe.  '' Tiiere  must 
be  several  of  ihem." 

"I  should  tliink  so  mystdf,"  replied  P])il,  who  had 
taken  the  (-bject  in  (pieslion  fi'om  Jalap  (,\)ombs  for  a 
closer  examiiuition,  "  if  it  were  not  for  a  private  mark 
that  I  scratclied  on  it  when  it  was  in  our  possession  at 
St.  JNliehaels.  See,  hei'e  it  is,  and  so  the  identity  of 
the  tooth  is  establislied  Ijeyond  a  dou'  ;.  IJut  how  it 
ever  <2;ot  here  I  cannot  conceive.  Tliere  is  actually 
somethin<»'  supernatural  about  the  whole  thinji;.  AVherc 
did  3'ou  say  yon  found  it,  .Mr.  Coombs  V*' 

"In  Ca})'n  Kid's  Ixiot,"  replied  tlie  mate,  who  liad 
just  restored  that  article  to  the  child's  foot.  "  IJut 
blow  me  for  a  ]»oi'pus  ef  1  kin  undersland  huw  I'ver  it 
o'ot  tlu're.  Last  time  I  seen  it  'twas  back  to  Forty 
Mile." 

"  Ves,"  said  Serine,"  Judge  lliley  had  it." 

"I  remember  seeing  liim  ])Ut  it  into  a  vest-pocket," 


1  off  tho 

('   it,  tlu! 

cliuliby 
inph  tlio 

made  ;i 
Coombs, 
le  child, 
?r(Ml  tho 
■ttcntioii 

firelight 
f  Ncl-tc, 
nrro  and 
led  it  ill 

V  en  11  it 

uTge,  in 
.M'c  must 

^llo  liad 
l)s  for  a 
tc  mark 
ssioTi  at 
iitity  of 
.  liow  it 
actually 
Where 

kdio  had 
^>  iJut 
'  ever  it 
;  Forty 


xx'kel , 


y. 

7. 


Si.'  »iaiBiWA!ag»>aaiWKt»f.  f-at^ 


)' 


■l! 


i^  'ASH 

m" 


-iiifiiS 

'i- 

THE    FUU-SKAl/s    TOOi'd    CUKATES    A    SENSATION     215 

n(l(](Ml  Phil,  "and  meant  to  ask  liini  lor  it,  but  forgot 
to  do  so.  Now  to  liave  it  appear  from  the  bootof 
that  cliild,  who  lias  never  been  to  Forty  Mile,  or  eer- 
tainly  not  sinee  we  left  there,  is  simply  niiraeiiloiis. 
It  beats  any  trick  of  spiritualism  or  conjurinj;-  I  ever 
heard  of.  The  mystery  of  the  tootli's  apj)eariiio-  at  St. 
3Ii(']ia'jls  after  my  father  h)st  it,  only  a  short  t  ime  be- 
fore at  Oonalaska,  was  strange  enough  ;  but  that  was 
nothing  to  this." 

"There  must  be  magic  in  it,"  said  Serge,  who  from 
early  associations  was  inclined  to  be  superstitious. 
"I  don't  care,  though,  if  there  is,"  he  added,  stoutly. 
"  I  believe  the  tootli  has  come  to  us  at  this  time  of  our 
despondency  as  an  omen  of  good-fortune,  and  now  I 
feel  certain  tJiat  we  shall  pull  through  all  right.  You 
remember,  Phil,  the  saying  that  goes  with  it:  'lie 
who  receives  it  as  a  gift  receives  good-luck.'  " 

"  Who  has  received  it  as  a  gift  this  time  ?"  inquired 
the  Yaidvce  lad. 

"  We  all  have,  tliougli  it  seems  to  liave  been  esj»e- 
ciall}^  sent  to  Kel-te,  and  you  know  he  is  the  one  wo 
were  most  anxious  about." 

"That's  so,"  assented  Phil,  "and  from  tliis  time  on 
Xel-te  shall  wear  it  as  a  charm,  though  I  su))pose  it 
won't  stay  with  him  any  longer  than  suits  its  con- 
venience. I  never  had  a  superstition  in  my  life,  and 
liaven't  believed  in  such  things,  but  I  must  confess  that 
my  unbelief  is  shaken  by  this  affair.  There  isn't  anv 
possible  way,  that  I  can  see,  for  this  tooth  to  have  f'ot 
liero  except  by  magic  of  some  kitxl." 

"It  beats  the  Fhj'uKj  JJufclnna))  and  merrymaids," 
said  Jalap  Coombs,  solemnly,  :is  he  lighted  his  ]»ipe 
for  a  quieting  smoke.  "  D'  ye  know,  la<ls,  I'm  coming 
to  tiiink  as  how  it  were  all  on  account  of  this 'ere  curio 
being  aboard  the  steamer  Xor.^k  that  she  stopped  and 
picked  you  u})  in  Jjcring  Sea  that  night." 


/ 


/ 


21G 


SXOW-SIIOIOS    AN]>    SLEDGES 


|i 


"Noiisonsc  !"  crio.,]  Pliil.      "That  is  inipossihle." 

Thus  purely  tlirou^li  it^nioniuco  this  lad,  who  was 
usually  so  scnsihle  and  Icvol-hcadod,  declared  with  one 
breath  his  belief  in  an  impossibility,  and  with  the  next 
his  disbelief  of  a  fact.  All  of  which  serves  to  illustrate 
the  folly  of  making  assertions  concerning  subjects 
about  wliicli  we  are  icjuorant.  There  is  nothing  so 
mysterious  that  it  cannot  be  explained,  and  nothing 
more  foolish  than  to  declare  a  tiling  impossil)le  simply 
))ecause  we  are  too  ignorant  to  understand  it. 

In  the  present  case  Serge  and  Jalaj)  Coombs,  and 
even  Phil,  who  should  liave  known  better,  were  ready 
to  believe  tliat  the  fur-seal's  tooth  had  come  to  them 
through  some  supernatural  agency,  because,  in  their 
iiinorance,  they  could  not  imasjrine  iiow  it  could  have 
come  in  any  other  Avay.  We  laugh  at  their  sim)>licity 
because  of  our  wisdom.  We  saw  Mr.  Piatt  Riley  drop 
the  tooth  into  one  of  their  sleeping-bags  at  Forty  Mile. 
Knowing  this,  it  is  easy  to  understand  how  that  same 
slee|)ing-bag,  which  l)a])})ened  to  be  tlie  extra  one  ac- 
quired by  the  turning  over  to  Jalap  Coombs  of  Stren- 
gel's  stolen  property,  should  be  selectetl  as  Nel-te's 
travelling-bag,  and  lashed  to  a  sledge  for  his  occupancy 
in  the  daytime.  In  his  restlessness  he  had  kicked  the 
tooth  about  until  it  finally  worked  its  way  into  one  of  his 
little  fur  boots,  and  that  is  all  there  was  to  the  mystery. 

Still,  it  afforded  a  fertile  to[)ic  for  conversation 
around  that  lonely  mountain-side  camp-fire  long  after 
Phil  had  strung  it  on  a  buckskin  thonsi;  and  liunG:  it 
about  the  child's  neck,  at  the  same  time  taking  the 
precaution  to  tuck  it  snugly  inside  his  little  fur  parka. 
All  aufrced  that  thev  Avere  ijlad  to  have  the  fur-seal's 
tootk  in  their  possession  once  more  ;  and  on  account 
of  its  presence  auiong  them  they  were  ready  to  face 
the  dilHculties  that  would  confront  them  on  the  mor- 
row with  a  cheerful  conlidence. 


;lio  was 
vith  oiu' 
the  next 
llustrate 
subjects 
:liing  so 
nothing 
e  sirn^dy 

nbs,  and 
re  ready 
to  tlieni 

in  their 
uhl  havo 
Linjdicity 
ik'y  drop 
rtv  Mile, 
bat  same 
L  one  ac- 
of  Stren- 

Nel-te's 
•cupancy 
eked  the 
)ne  of  his 
mystery, 
/ersation 
)n£r  after 

liung  it 

ing  the 
ir  parka. 

ur-seal's 

account 
to  faco 

he  mor- 


CTIAPTER    XXXIII 
LOST    IN    A    .MOINTAIV    liMZZARD 

Tired  as  were  tlic  occupants  of  that  lonely  camjt 
after  a  day  of  exhausting  elinibing  up  through  the 
timber,  their  slumbers  were  broken  and  restless.  The 
imcertainties  of  the  morrow,  the  ])cciiliar  nature  of  tlu^ 
road  they  had  yet  to  travel,  and  the  excitement  conse- 
(picnt  upon  nearing  the  end  of  their  journey,  which  none 
of  them  beliijved  to  be  over  lifty  miles  away,  all  com- 
bined to  render  them  wakeful  and  uneasy.  So  they  were 
up  by  the  iirst  sign  of  daylight,  and  off  before  sunrise. 

As  there  were  now  but  tliree  dogs  to  a  sledge,  the 
load  of  the  one  driven  by  Serge  was  divided  between 
it  and  the  one  that  brought  \\\)  the  rear  in  charge  (jf 
Jalap  Coombs.  A  few  sticks  of  dry  wood  were  also 
])laced  on  each  sledge,  so  that  in  crossing  the  upjx-r 
ice-fields  they  might  at  least  be  able  to  melt  snow  for 
drinking  purposes. 

"  Now  for  it!"  cried  Phil,  cheerfully,  as  they  emerged 
from  the  scanty  timber,  and  shivered  in  the  chill  blast 
that  swept  down  from  the  towering  ])eaks  above  them. 
Between  two  of  these  was  a  saddle-like  depression  that 
they  took  to  be  the  pass,  and  to  it  the  young  leader  de- 
termined to  guide  his  little  ])arty. 

"  Up  you  go.  Musky  !"  he  shouted.  "  l*ul],Luvtuk, 
my  ])igeon  !  Amook,  3'ou  ohl  rascal,  show  wh;it  you 
are  o-ood  for  !  A  little  more  work,  a  little  more  bun- 
ger,  and  then  rest,  with  plenty  to  eat.  So  stir  your- 
selves and  climb  !" 


f 


h 


21R 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND    SLEIKSES 


'    I 


'  j 

■i  i  1; 


Witli  this  till'  long  Avlii|)-l;isli  whi.stliMl  throiitxh  the 
frosty  air  and  cracked  witli  a  rcsoimdinsTf  report  tliat 
would  have  done  ci-edit  to  the  most  ex])ort  of  Eskimo 
drivers,  for  our  Phil  was  no  Ioniser  a  novice  in  its  use, 
and  with  a  y(d|)  the  dogs  sprang  forward. 

U)),  up,  up  they  clind)ed,  until,  as  Phil  remarked,  it 
didn't  seem  as  though  the  top  of  the  world  could  bo 
very  far  away.  The  sun  rose  and  flooded  the  snow- 
iields  with  such  da/zling  radiance  that  i)ut  for  their 
protectinoc  gogijles  our  travellei's  must  have  been  com- 
pletely  blinded  by  the  glare.  The  dee))  gulch  whose 
windinsjs  thev  followed  held  in  sunnner-time  a  roarincr 
torrent;  but  now  it  was  filled  with  solidly  packed  snow 
from  twenty-five  to  one  hun(b'ed  feet  deej). 

As  they  advanced  the  gulch  grew  more  and  more 
shallow,  until  at  length  it  was  merged  in  a  broad,  uni- 
form slope  so  steep  and  slippery  that  they  were  obliged 
to  cut  footholds  in  the  snow,  and  at  frerjuent  intervals 
carve  out  little  benches  two  feet  wide.  From  one  of 
these  to  another  they  dragged  the  sledges,  one  at  a 
time,  with  rawhide  ropes.  Even  the  dogs  had  to  be 
assisted  up  the  glassy  incline,  on  which  they  could 
<i*ain  no  hold.  So  arduous  was  this  labor  that  three 
Iiours  were  spent  in  ovei-coming  the  last  live  hundred 
feet  of  the  ascent.  Thus  it  was  long  past  noon  when, 
breathless  and  exhausted,  the  party  I'eached  the  sum- 
mit, or  rather  a  slope  so  gentle  that  the  dogs  could 
once  more  drag  the  sledges. 

Here,  at  an  elevation  of  nearly  five  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea,  they  i)aused  for  breath,  for  a  bite  of 
lunch,  and  for  a  last  look  back  over  the  way  they  had 
come.  From  this  elevation  their  view  embraced  a 
sweep  of  over  one  hundred  miles  of  mountain  and 
plain,  river  and  forest.  It  was  so  far-reaching  and 
boundless  that  it  even  seemed  as  if  they  could  take  in 
the  whole  vast  Yukon  Valley,  and  locate  jioints  that 


i  i  i 
i  ■  > 


LOST    IN'    A    MOrNTATX    liM/.ZAKD 


10 


)ii^]i  tile 

)()rt  tliat 

Eskimo 

1  its  use, 

arkcd,  it 
could  1)0 
ic  siiow- 
'or  their 
-■en  com- 
h  whose 
.  loai'iiio: 
led  snow 

lid  more 
o.ad,  iiiii- 
'  obliged 
intervals 
1  one  of 
mii  at  a 
id  to  be 
'V  could 
I  at  three 
hundred 
)n  when, 
die  sum- 
[^s  could 

and  feet 
bite  of 
they  had 
traced  a 
tain  and 
ling  and 
1  take  in 
nts  that 


common-sense   told   them   were   a    thousand   miles  be- 
yond their  range  of  vision,      (irand  as   was  the  j)ros- 
pect,  they  did  not  care  t(t  look   at  ii  long.      Time   was 
preciijiis  ;  the  air,  in  sj»ite  of  its  sunliglil,  was  bittei-ly 
chill,  and,  after  ;;11,  the  mighty    wilderness   now   be- 
hind them  held  too  many  memories  of  iiardshij),  sulfei- 
ing,  and  danger  to  render  it  attractive. 
So,  "Ilurrali  for  the  coast  !''  cried  Phil. 
"  Hurrah  for  Sitka  I"  echoed  Serce. 
"Hooray  for  salt  water!     Now,  hullies,  up  and  at 
'em  !"  roared    Jn.i.'n   C'o()nd)s,  expressing  a   sentiment 
and  an  order  to  his  sailor-bi-ed  dogs  in  a  breath. 

In  a  few  moments  more  tlu;  wonderful  view  had 
disappeared,  and  the  sledges  wei-e  threading  their  way 
amid  a  chaos  of  gigantic  howlders  and  snow-covered 
landslides  from  the  ])eaks  that  rose  on  both  sides. 
There  was  no  sharp  descent  from  the  summit,  such  as 
they  had  hoped  to  find,  but  instead  a  lofty  ])lateau 
piled  thick  with  obstructions.  About  them  no  ixyrvu 
thing  was  to  be  seen,  no  sign  of  life  ;  only  -,,ow.  ice, 
and  i)recipitous  cliffs  of  bare  ro(d<.  The  all-})ervading 
and  absolute  silence  was  awful.  There  was  no  trail 
that  might  be  followed,  for  the  hardiest  of  natives 
dared  not  attempt  that  crossiuL:'  in  the  winter.  Even 
if  they  had,  their  trail  would  have  been  obliterated 
almost  as  soon  as  made  by  the  fierce  storms  of  those 
altitudes.  So  their  only  guide  was  that  of  general  di- 
rection, wdiich  they  knew  to  be  south,  and  to  this  course 
Phil  endeavored  to  hold. 

That  night  they  made  a  chill  camp  in  the  lee  of  a 
great  bowlder  ;  that  is,  in  as  much  of  a  lee  as  could  be 
had,  where  the  icy  blast  swcj.t  in  circles  and  eddies 
from  all  directions  at  once.  They  stai'ted  a  lire,  l)ut 
its  feeble  flame  was  so  blown  hither  and  thither  that 
by  the  timc>  a  kettle  of  snow  was  melted  and  the  ie(' 
was  thawed  from  their  stew,  their  supply  of  wood  was 


220 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLKDGES 


I      I 


§ 


SO  (Irplotcd  tlifit  tlioy  dared  not  use  more.  >?o  tlioy 
ate  tlicir  seanty  supper  without  tea,  fed  the  doj^s  on 
frozen  jtorridufe,  and,  huddliuLT  tot^etlier  for  warnitli 
durintjj  the  Iou<^  hours  of  hleak  dai'kuess,  were  thankful 
enoui^h  to  welcome  the  iirav  dawn  that  brouufht  them 
to  an  end. 

For  three  days  more  they  toiled  over  the  terril)l(» 
jdeateau,  driven  to  h^ng  detours  by  insurmountable 
obstacles,  buffeted  and  lashed  by  iierce  snow-s<]ualls 
and  ice-laden  gales,  but  ever  pushing  onward  with 
unabated  courage,  expecting  with  each  hour  to  tind 
themselves  descending  into  the  valley  of  the  C'hilkat 
lliver.  Two  of  the  dogs  driven  by  Serge  broke  down 
so  completely  that  they  were  mercifully  shot,  'Flu; 
thii'd  dog  was  added  to  Jalap  (.\)ond)s's  team,  and  the 
b)ad  was  divided  between  the  renuiining  sledges,  while 
tli(!  now  useless  one  was  used  as  firewood.  After  that 
Phil  ploibled  on  in  advance,  and  Serge  drove  the  lead- 
ing team. 

The  fourth  day  of  this  terrible  work  was  oiu'  of 
leaden  clouds  and  bitter  winds.  The  members  of  tlie 
little  party  were  growing  desperate  with  cold,  exhaus- 
tion, and  hunger.  'Fheir  wanderings  had  not  brought 
them  to  a  timber-line,  and  as  poor  Phil  faced  the  blast 
with  bowed  head  and  chattering  teeth  it  seemed  to 
him  that  to  be  once  more  thorouo-hlv  warm  would  be 
the  perfection  of  human  happiness. 

It  Avas  already  growing  dusk,  and  he  was  anxiously 
casting  about  for  the  sorry  shelter  of  some  bowlder 
behind  which  they  might  shiver  away  the  liours  of 
darkness,  when  he  came  to  the  verge  of  a  steej)  de- 
clivity. Ilis  heart  leaped  as  he  glanced  (b)wn  its  pre- 
cipitous face  ;  for,  far  below,  he  saw  a  dark  mass  that 
he  knew  must,  be  timber,  Thev  could  not  descend  at 
that  point  ;  but  he  thought  he  saw  one  that  appeared 
more  favorable  a  little  farther  on,  and  hastened  in  that 


LOST    IX    A    MOINTAIN    BLIZZAliD 


221 


So  llicy 
(loi^H  on 
warintli 
tliuiiid'iil 
;lit  them 

terrible 
ountiible 
v'-.s(]ualls 
ird  with 
to  i\u(\ 
Chilkat 
ke  down 
.)t.  1Mie 
,  and  tlie 
es,  wliilo 
fter  tliat 
the  lead- 

<  one  of 
s  of  the 
exlians- 
brouolit 
he  hhist 
enied  to 

voiihl  be 

nxiously 
bowlder 
lOurs  of 
teep  de- 
its  pre- 
lass  that 
scend  at 
i))))eared 
1  in  that 


dircelion.  He  was  already  some  distance  ahead  of  the 
slow-inovins'  sledges,  and  meant  to  wait  for  them  as 
soon  as  he  diseoveicd  a  ]»la('(>  from  wITudi  the  de- 
scent could  be  made. 

Suddenly  a  whirliiii;,  blindiuL;  cloud  of  snow  swept 
<]own  on  him  with  sucli  fury  that  to  face  it  and 
breathe  was  impossible.  Thiid^inu^  it  but  a  scpiall,  he 
turned  his  l)ack  and  stood  motionless,  waitinpf  for  it  to 
pass  over.  Instead  of  so  doini;,  it  momentarily  in- 
creased in  violence  and  (b'usity.  A  sudilen  darkness 
came  with  the  storm,  and  as  he  anxiously  started  back 
to  meet  th(.'  sledges  he  could  not  see  one  rod  before 
him.  He  beij^an  to  shout,  and  in  a  few  mi?iutes  had 
the  satisfaction  of  hearing-  an  answering  cry.  Directly 
afterwar<ls  Serge  loomed  through  the  <lriving  cloud, 
urging  on  his  reluctant  dogs  with  voice  and  whip. 
The  moment  they  wen?  allowed  to  stop.  Musky, 
I.uvtuk,  aiul  big  Amook  lay  down  as  though  com- 
])letely  exhausted. 

"  We  can't  go  a  stej)  farther,  Phil  !  We  must  make 
camp  at  once,"  ])anted  Serge,  "This  storm  is  a  regu- 
lar poorr/a,  and  will  probably  last  all  night." 

"Jjut  where  can  we  camp?"  asked  Phil,  in  dismay. 
"There  is  timber  dov>"n  below,  but  it  looks  miles  away, 
and  we  can't  get  to  it  now." 

"Xo,"  I'eplied  Serge;  "we  must  stay  where  W(>  are, 
and  burrow  a  hole  in  this  di'ift  big  enough  to  \\o\d  us. 
We've  got  to  do  it  in  a  hurry,  too." 

So  saying,  Serge  drew  his  knife,  for  the  outside  of 
the  drift  close  to  which  they  wei'c  halted  was  so  hard 
packed  as  to  render  cutting  necessary,  and  outlined  a 
low  0])ening.  Prom  this  he  removed  an  unl)i'(jken 
slab,  and  then  began  to  dig  furiously  in  the  soft  snow 
beyond. 

In  the  meantime  Phil  was  wondering  Avhy  Jalap 
Coombs  did  not   appear,  for  he  had  suj>posed  him  to 


(      » 


mmmam 

i 


HrMHMPHM 


222 


SXOW-SIIOKS    AM)    SI,i;i)(rKS 


l)u  close  behind  Scribe  ;  l)ut  now  liis  repeated  slioiit- 
iiiijjs  i^iiined  no  I'cjily. 

"lie  was  not  more  tlian  one  liuiidred  l\'el,  l^eliiiid 
nie  Avlicn  the  storm  beixan,"  said  Scr^e,  wliose  anxietv 
caused  hiui  to  pause  in  liis  laltoi',  tliough  it  was  for  llie 
preservation  of  llieir  li\es. 

"He  must  l)e  in  some  troulih',"  sai<l  Phil,  "and  I  am 
G^oinjjf  hack  to  iind  him." 

"  You  can't  <xo  alone  I''  said  Scr^e,  "If  vou  are  to 
get  lost  I  must  go  with  you." 

"No.  One  of  us  must  stav  hei'c  with  Xel-tc,  ".nd  it 
is  my  duty  to  go  ;  hut  <lo  you  shout  I'very  few  seconds, 
and  I  i)romis('  not  to  li;'o  heyond  sound  of  voiir  voice." 

Thus  saying,  Phil  started  hack,  and  Avas  in^tallt]y 
swallowi'd  in  the  Nortex  of  the  hli//.ard.  l''ailhfully 
did  Serge  slunit,  and  faithfully  did  Phil  answer,  foi* 
nearly  lifleen  minutes.  Then  the  lattei'  canu'  staggei'- 
ing  l)ack,  with  hori'or-stricken  face;  and  voict'. 

"I  cairt  Iind  liim,  Serge!  Oh,  I  can't  hud  himl" 
lu'  crie(L  "  I  am  afi'aid  he  lias  gone  o\er  the  ])reei}>ice. 
If  he  lias,  it  is  my  fault,  and  1  shall  never  foi'give  my- 
self, for  1  had  no  husiness  to  go  so  far  ahead  and  let 
the  party  <jcet  scattered." 

Serge  answer<\l  not  a  word,  but  fell  Avith  desperate 
ciieri^v  to  the  excavating  of  his  snowdiouse.  His  heart, 
was  near  breaking  with  the  sorrow  that  had  ovei'taken 
them,  but  he  was  determineil  that  no  other  lives  should 
be  lost  if  his  efforts  could  save  them.  The  excavation 
was  soon  so  large  that  I'hil  could  work  Avith  him,  but 
with  all  their  furious  digging  they  secured  a  shelter 
from  the  pitiless  ponr//<t  noiu^  too  soon.  I'lie  sledge 
was  alr(\ady  biirit'd  IVo-.n  sight,  and  poor  little  Nel-te 
was  wellnigh  smother''d  ere  they  lifted  him  from  it 
and  ])ulled  him  into  the  burrow. 


•>1    sliollt- 

't,  Ix'hiiid 
u  tuixiolv 
IS  for  tlie 

and  I  am 

on  are  to 

■Ic,  ".11(1  it 
V  seconds, 
ir  voici'." 
instantly 
'"aillifnlly 
iswer,  I'or 
r  stai^<i;<'r- 

iid  him!" 
])reci})i('(.'. 
rujivo  niy- 
id  and  let 

il('s))erale 
lis  lii'art 
via'taken 
OS  should 

xcav.ition 
liim,  l)iit 
a  shelter 
!('  sledge 
\v  Nel-to 
I   Croni  it 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 
COASTING    I'lVi:    MIl,i:S    IN    FIVE    MINUTES 

In  s])itc  of  tlieir  faintnesr,  and  M-ealcicss  from  linn- 
ger  and  exhaustion,  Phil  and  Sor'^-e  were  so  stimulated 
by  the  einericiMiey  that  within  h  .If  an  liour  they  had 
duuj  a  cavity  in  the  ujreat  drift  sntlicienlly  lari,n>  to 
hold  the  three  do£fs  as  well  as  themselves.  The  cxca- 
ration  was  driven  straiL,dit  for  a  few  feet,  and  then 
turned  to  one  side,  where  it  was  so  CMilartjcMl  that  they 
coulil  either  lie  <lown  or  sit  u}>.  Into  this  diminutive 
chand)er  they  dra<j:;^^ed  their  I'oljcs  and  slee|)ing-l)a_Lrs. 
The  shiveriuL!,-  doL;s  ci'ept  in  and  curled  up  at  their 
feet.  The  sledu-e  was  left  (Milside,  ami  the  opcnini^ 
was  closed  as  well  as  niii^ht  be  by  the  slab  of  com- 
pacted snow  that  had  been  cut  from  it. 

Poor  little  Nel-tt',  who  was  numbed  and  whimjjer- 
iiiLf  Avitli  cold  and  liunj^er,  was  rubbed  into  a  i^low, 
comforted,  and  jtetteil,  until  at  len<j;th  lie  fell  asleep, 
nestled  between  the  lads,  and  then  they  found  time  to 


talk  over 


thei 


r  situation. 


!• 


Ol 


a   while  thev  had   no 


thoULjht  save  foi  the  dear  friend  and  trusty  comrade 
who,  alive  or  <lead,  was  still  out  in  that  terrible  storm, 
and,  as  they  believed,  lost  to  thei,!  forever. 

"I  don't  suppose  thei'e  is  tlu;  faintest  ]ioj)e  of  ever 


'ciniT  him  au'ain,"  said  Phil. 


If  he   went    o\fr  the 


kill. 


an( 


1  is! 


)urie( 


I  d 


eel) 


Mveii  il'  he  did  not,  and   i^ 


])recipice  he  must   liiive  been 

in  the  snow  by  this  tinu' 

still    M'anderlu!::   somewhere    in    this    virinity,   he   must 

pei'ish    before   niorniuL;'.      ( Mi,  Sei'i^'e,  eairt    wc   d>i   ;inv- 


/T^HPiP 


mm 


ii    I 


224 


yNOW-SIIOKS    AM)    SLEDGES 


tliiii<]j  for  liini?  Tt  makes  nio  feel  liko  a  cowardly  trai- 
tor to  bo  sitting  liore  in  comfort  wliilo  the  dear  old 
cha])  may  he  close  at  hand,  and  perishing  for  want  of 
our  help.  Ami  it  is  my  fault,  too!  Tlir^  fault  of  my 
inexcusahle  carelessness.  It  seems,  old  man,  as  if  I 
;>houId  go  crazy  with  thinking  of  it." 

"  J>ut  you  mustn't  think  of  it  in  that  way,  Pliil,"  an- 
swered vSerge,  soothingly.  "As  leader  of  the  party  it 
Avas  your  duty  to  go  ahead  and  ])ick  out  the  road,  whih.! 
it  was  ours  t<>  keen  vou  in  sigiit.  If  either  of  us  is  to 
blame  for  what  l.-as  happened,  I  am  the  one.  I  should 
have  lookeil  back  ofteiier,  and  made  sure  that  he  was 
still  close  behind  me.  Now  there  is  nolhing  Ave  can 
do  exce])t  wait  for  daylight  and  the  end  of  the  storm. 
We  have  our  parents,  this  child,  and  ourselves  to  think 
of  lirst.  Xor  could  we  aecomjdish  anything  even  if 
we  tried.  The  storm  has  doubled  in  fury  since  wo 
hailed.  A  foot  of  snow  must  already  have  fallen,  and 
to  venture  a  single  rod  outside  of  this  place  would 
serve  to  lose  us  as  certai'ily  as  though  we  \\-ent  a  mile. 
We  mustn't  give  up  all  hope,  though.  ."Mr.  Coombs  is 
very  strong,  and  Avell  used  to  ex})osure.  Of  course,  if 
he  has  gone  over  the  precipice  there  is  little  chance 
that  we  shall  ever  see  him  again  ;  but  if  he  eseaped  it, 
and  has  made  a  burrow  for  himself  like  this  one,  he  will 
pull  lhrou(,d»  ail  right,  and  we  shall  lind  liiiu  iu  the 
morning." 

"Why  haven't  wc  dug  ])la('es  lik(>  this  before  V" 
asked  Phil.  "It  is  actually  getting  warm  and  com- 
fortable in  here.  We  might  have  had  just  such  a 
warm  cave  every  night  that  we  have  been  in  the  moun- 
tains  and  spent  so  miserably." 

"  <  )f  coui-se  we  might,"  agreed  Serge,  "  and  WG  would 
hav<'  had  hut  for  my  stupidity  in  not  thinking  of  it 
sooner.  \Vhile  J  never  took  refuge  in  one  before,  I 
have  often  heard  of  them,  and  ought  to  have  remefu- 


Jly  Irai- 
lear  old 
want  of 
t  of  my 
,  as  if  I 

hil,"  an- 

])arty  it 

1(1,  wliilo 

us  is  to 
I  sliould 
t  lie  was 
f  we  can 
[p  storm. 
1  to  til  ink 
<;  cvon   if 
since    wo 
.lien,  and 
:;e  would 
it  a  mile, 
oombs  is 
:'otirsc,  if 
cliancc 
icaped  it, 
c,  lie  will 

n  iu   the 

before  V" 
and  com- 
,t  such  a 
he  moun- 

WG  would 

;ing  of  it 

before,  I 

'{i  remeni- 


COASTIXO    FIVK    MII.KS    IN    FIVE    MIXriKS  -J5 

bered.  I  (lidn't,  tliouiLjh,  until  this  s1(U'm  strack  us, 
and  I  knew  that,  without  shelter  we  must  certainly 
])erish." 

"If  you  hadn't  thouixht  of  a  snow -burrow,"  said 
Phil,  "  it  is  certain  I  never  should.  It  is  sniiu^,  thouirh, 
and  if  only  poor  Jalap  were  with  us,  and  we  had  food 
and  a  lif,dit  of  some  kind,  I  wouldn't  ask  for  a  better 
shelter.  I  can  understand  now  how  an  Eskimo  stone 
lam]),  with  seal-oil  for  fuel  and  a  wick  of  moss,  can  !ji:ive 
out  all  tlie  heat  that  is  nee<led  in  one  of  tluMr  snow- 
huts,  and  1  only  wish  we  had  bi'ouu'ht  one  with  us." 

After  this  tlie  boys  i;;rew  drowsy,  their  convi'rsat ion 
slackened,  and  soon  all  tlii'ir  ti'ouhles  were  foru;otten 
in  slee]>.  Outside,  throuijh  tlu;  lon<r  hours,  the.  trale 
roared  and  shi'ieketl  with  impotent  i'a<i;e  at  tlieir  esea])e 
fi'om  its  eliitcln's.  It  hurled  its  snow  leijioiis  ao'ainst 
their  place  of  refuse  until  it-  was  deep  buried,  and  then 
i".'  :\  i'en/y  toi'e  away  and  scattered  the  ili'ifted  accu- 
mulation, until  if  could  oiu'e  more  beat  directly  upon 
their  slender  w.iii  of  defence.  Ibit  iu  wiles  and  its 
furious  attacks  wei-e  alike  in  vain,  and  at  leni^ili  its 
fierce  ravinp^s  sank  into  vv'hispers.  The  ponrf/if  spent 
its  force  with  the  darkness,  and  at  <layliu'lit  had  swept 
on  to  inland  fields,  leaving'  oidy  an  added  bni-den  of 
;i  million  tons  of  snow  to  mark  its  passasjfe  across  the 
mountains. 

\\  lien  llu!  b(»ys  awoke  a  sol't  while  lit;lit  was  liltei'- 
in<jf  tiirou^h  one  side  of  their  spotless  chamber,  and 
they  knew  that  day  had  come.  'I'hey  expected  to  diic 
their  wav  t(»  the  outer  air  tlirouii'h  a-  <j;reat  mass  of 
snow,  and  were  atxrei'ably  surprised  to  iind  only  a 
small  drift  ajj^ainst  the  dooi'way.  As  they  emerncd 
fi'om  it  th"y  were  for  a  few  minutes  blinde<l  ])y  the 
marvellous  lu-illiancy  of  their  sunlit  surroundinii^s. 
(Gradually  bei'ominpf  accustomed  t<»the  intense  liu^ht, 
they  i^azed  eagerly  about  for  some  sign  of  theii'  miss- 


r  i  V  II  "f'jism 


2--'G 


SXOW-SIIOKS    AM)    SI.EDGES 


lil 


i 

I 


inuj  comrade,  but  there  was  none.  They  followed 
l^aek  for  a  mile  over  tin;  way  they  had  eoino  th(»  even- 
ing before,  shoulim^  and  firing  their  guns,  but  without 
avail. 

No  answering  sliout  came  back  to  their  straining 
ears,  and  there  was  nothing  to  indicate  tin;  fate  of  the 
lost  man.  Sadly  and  soberly  the  lads  retraced  their 
steps,  and  jjrepare*!  to  resume  their  journey.  To  I'e- 
main  longer  in  that  ])lace  meant  starvation  and  death. 
To  save  themselves  they  must  pusli  on. 

'^J'hey  shuddered  at  th<>  ])recij)ice  they  had  escaped, 
and  over  which  thev  feared  their  comrade  had  plunijed. 
At  its  foot  lay  a  valley,  which,  though  it  trended 
westward,  and  so  away  from  their  course,  l*hil  <h'- 
termined  to  follow  ;  for,  far  below  their  lofty  ])ercli, 
and  still  miles  away  from  where  they  stood,  it  hrld 
the  dark  mass  he  had  seen  the  night  before,  and  knew 
to  be  timber.  IJesides,  his  sole  desire  at  that  moment 
was  to  esca))e  from  thos(^  awful  heights  and  reach 
the  coast  at  some  ])oint  ;  he  hardly  cared  whether  it 
were  inhabited  or  not. 

So  the  sledge  was  dui;  from  its  bed  of  snow,  reload- 
ed,  and  the  dogs  were  harnessed.  J\)or  little  Nel-te, 
crying  with  hunger,  was  sli))ped  into  his  fur  travelling- 
])ag,  and  a  start  was  made  to  searcdi  for  some  point  of 
descent.  At  length  they  found  a  ]»lace  where  the 
slo])e  reached  to  the  very  top  of  the  cliif,  but  so 
sharply  that  it  was  like  the  steep  roof  of  a  house 
several  miles  in  length. 

"I  hate  the  looks  of  it,"  said  I'hil,  "but  as  there 
doesn't  seem  to  be  any  other  way,  I  sup]>ose  we've  got 
to  try  it.  I  should  say  that  for  at  least  three  miles  it 
is  as  steej)  as  the  steep(>st  part  of  a  toboggansli(b^, 
thougli,  and  I'm  pretty  certain  w(!  sha'n't  care  to  try 
it  more  than  onci'." 

"  1    guess  we   can    do    it   all    right,"  rejtlied    Seige, 


COASTIXO    FIVE   MILES    IN    FINE   MINUTES 


followed 
the  ovcn- 
t  without 

straining 
lie  of  the 
ict'd  their 
:.  To  rc- 
111(1  death. 

d  escaped, 
d  plunged, 
it  trended 
.,  Phil   d.- 
jfty  pereh, 
od,  it  hrld 
,  and  knew 
lat  nionu'iit 
;  and  reach 
whether  it 

low,  reload- 
ttle  Xel-te, 

travelling- 
nic  point  of 

where  the 
.liir,  but    so 

of  a  house 

)ut  as  there 

se  we've  got 

iri'e  miles  it 

)0ggan  slide, 

care  to  try 

■plied    Serge, 


"but  there's  onlv  one  way,  and  tliat  is  to  sit  on  a  snow- 
shoe  and  slide.  We  couldn't  keep  on  our  feet  a  biiigle 
second." 

They  lifted  Kel-te,  f ur  bag  and  ;ill,  frmi  the  sledge, 
tighlened  the  lashings  of  its  load,  which  included  the 
guns  and  extra  snow-shoes,  and  started  it  over  the 
veri^e.  It  ilaslied  down  the  declivity  like  a  rocket,  aii<l 
the  last  they  saw  of  it,  it  was  rolling  over  and  over. 

"Looks  cheerful,  doesn't  it?"  said  I'hil,  trimly. 
"Now  I'll  l;o  ;  then  do  you  ^tart  the  dogs  down,  and 
come  yourself  as  (piick  as  you  })le;ise.'^ 

'i'hus  saying,  the  plucky  lad  seated  himself  on  a 
snow-shoe,  took  Nel-te,  still  in  the  fur  bag,  in  his  lap, 
and  launched  himself  over  the  edge  of  the  clilf.  For  a 
moment  the  sensation,  which  was  that  of  falling  from 
a  great  height,  was  sickening,  and  a  thick  mist  seemed 
to  obscure;  his  vision,  '^riien  it  cleared  away,  and  was 
I'ollowed  by  a  feeling  (»f  tlie  wihlest  exhilaration  as  he 
heard  the  whistling  backward  rush  of  air,  and  realizi  d 
I  ho  tremendous  s})eed  at  which  he  was  whiz/ing  through 
space.  Ere  it  seemed  ])ossible  that  he  could  have 
gone;  half-way  to  the  timber-line,  trees  began  to  lly 
])ast  him,  and  he  knew  that  the  worst  was  over.  In 
another  minute  he  was  floundering  in  a  drift  of  soft 
snow,  into  which  he  had  ])lunged  up  to  his  neck,  and 
the  ])erilons  feat  was  nccomplishcd. 

Poor  Serge  arrived  at  the  same  point  shortly  after- 
wards, head  lii'st,  and  dove  out  of  sight  in  the  di-ift ; 
but  fortunately  Phil  was  in  a  ]»osition  to  extricate  him 
before  he  smothered.  Tln^  dogs  appeared  a  moiiu'Ut 
later,  with  somewdiat  less  velocity,  but  badly  demoral- 
ized, and  evidently  feeling  that  they  hatl  liccn  sadly 
ill-treated.  So  the  sledge  [larty  had  safely  descended 
in  live  minutes  a  distance'  eipial  to  that  which  they 
liad  spent  half  a  day  and  iniinite  titd  in  ax-ciiding  on 
the  other  side  of  the  mountains. 


m 


k.:i 


1^ 

i  t 


' 


228 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLKDUKS 


When  Ncl-tc  was  released  from  the  fur  hag  and  set 
on  his  feet  lie  was  as  eahn  and  self-possessed  as  thousj;!! 
nothing  out  of  the  nsual  liad  ha])[)ene(l,  and  initncdi- 
ately  demanded  somethinL;-  to  eat. 

After  a  long  search  they  diseovered  the  sledge,  with 
only  one  rail  hroken  and  its  load  intact. 

"Now  for  a  lire  and  bi-eakfast  !"  cried  Phil,  head- 
ing towards  th;'  timber  as  soon  as  the  original  order 
of  things  was  restored.  ".M'ter  that  we  will  make  one 
more  eit'ort  to  iind  some  trace  of  poor  ,lala[),  though 
I  don't  believe  there  is  the  slightest  chance  of  suc- 
cess." ■ 

They  entered  the  forest  of  wide -spreading  but 
stunted  evergreens,  and  Piiil,  axe  in  hand,  was  vigor- 
ously attacking  a  (h'ad  spruce,  when  an  ex(damation 
from  his  conn)anion  caused  him  to  pause  in  his  labor 
and  look  around. 

"AVhat  can  that  be  ?"' asked  Serge,  ])oiiiting  to  a 
thick  hemlock  that  stood  but  ;i  few  yards  from  tlu-m. 
The  lower  ends  of  its  (lroo})ing  branches  were  deep 
buried  in  snow,  but  such  part  as  was  still  visible  was 
in  a  strange  state  of  agitation. 

"It  must  be  a  bear,"  replied  Phil,  dropping  his  axe 
and  springing  to  the  sledge  for  his  ritle.  "  His  winter 
den  is  in  there,  and  we  liav(_!  disturbed  him.  dret  out 
your  gun — quick  !  ^V'^e  ean'l  ail'ord  to  lose  him.  Cleat's 
too  scarce  in  camp  just  now." 

Even  as  he  s[)oke,  and  before  the  guns  could  be 
taken  from  their  moose-skin  eases,  the  motion  of  the 
branches  increased,  there  came  a  violent  n))heaval  of 
the  snow  that  weighted  them  down,  and  the  boys 
cau<_>ht  a  <'limi)se  of  some  huue  shaiTjtfV  animal  issuinii; 
from  the  powdered  whiteness. 

"  Ilurrv  I"  cried  I'hil.     "No,  look  out  1     We're  too 


lat( 


\\' 


lal  V    (ireat  Scoit ! 


It 


can 


i)e 


A' 


es.  It  IS 


Hui'rah  I   (ilor\,  hallelujah  !   I  knew  heM  pull  through 


J  and  set 

s  though 

iimiu'di- 

Igo,  witli 

lil,  head- 
lal  order 
uake  one 
>,  tliougli 
!   of   suc- 

iiiig  but 
as  vigor- 
lamaliou 
liis  hibor 

iiig   to  a 

)1U   tllClIK 

ere  deep 
>ihlu  Avas 

g  liis  axe 

is  winter 

(ilct  out 

.     Meat's 

could  be 
n  of  the 
leaval  of 
the  boys 
.1  issuinir 


^e're  too 


es,  It  IS 


throut;li 


COASTING    FIVE   MILES    IN    FIVE    MINUTES  220 

all  right,  and  I  believe  I'm  the  very  happiest  fellow  in 
all  the  world  at  this  minute." 

".Ak'bbe  you  be,  son,"  remarked  Jalap  (\x)ml)s, 
''and  then  again  mebbe  tin-re's  others  as  is  (Mpcilly 
joyful.  As  my  old  friend  Kite  Koberson  useter  sav 
'A  receiver's  as  good  as  a  thief,'  an<l  I  sartainlv  re- 
ceived a  lieap  of  pleasure  through  hearing  you  holler 
jest  now."  "^ 


7TW 


CHAPTER    XXXV 


now    JALAP    COOMIJS    -MADE    POKT 


The  tliini^s  on  whicli  m'c  arc  aj)!  to  set  tlio  liiglicst 
value  in  this  world  are  tliose  that  we  liave  lost,  and 
even  our  friends  are  as  a  rule  most  highly  ap])reeiated 
after  they  have  been  taken  from  us.  Thus,  in  th(>  pres- 
ent instanee,  Phil  and  Serge  had  so  sincerely  mourned 
the  loss  of  their  quaint  but  loyal  comrade  that  his  res- 
toration to  them  alive  and  well,  "hearty  and  hungry," 
as  he  himself  expressed  it,  filled  them  with  uid)ounded 
joy.  They  hung  about  him,  and  lovingly  brushed  the 
snow  from  his  fur  clothing,  and  plied  hiui  with  ques- 
tions, and  made  so  much  of  him  that  he  tinallv  ex- 
claimed : 

"Avast,  lads,  and  let  u})  !  Ye  make  me  feel  like  I 
were  readiug  my  own  obituary  in  ])rint,  which  my  old 
friend  Kite  Koberson  were  the  only  mortal  man  ever  I 
knowcd  as  had  that  onhappy  ])leasure.  It  ha])pened 
when  he  were  lost  at  sea,  with  his  shij)  and  all  hands, 
in  latitood  24.0(3  nothe,  and  longitood  140.15  west, 
'cording  to  the  noosepapers  ;  while,  'cording  to  Kite's 
log,  he  wx're  cutting  in  of  a  fin-back  and  havini;  the 
best  of  luck  at  that  very  place  coul  hour.  Anyway, 
whether  he  were  drownded  or  no,  he  kim  back  in  time 
to  enjoy  the  mortification  of  reading  the  notice  of  his 
own  taking  off,  which  he  said  it  made  him  feel  ashamed 
to  be  alive,  seeing  as  lie  were  a  so  much  better  man 
after  he  were  dead.  Them's  about  the  size  of  my  feel- 
ings at  the  present  hour  of  observation.     So  ef  you 


HOW    JALAP    COO.MUS    MADE    TORT 


2  m 


ost,  and 
)i'(.'ciatt'(l 
Jic  pros- 
nounuul 
I  liis  ros- 
imigry," 
bouiulecl 
slied  tlic 
itli  ques- 
lally  cx- 

"el  like  I 

I  my  old 
in  ever  I 
appened 

II  hands, 
15  west, 
to  Kite's 
ving  the 
\nyway, 
i.  in  time 
ce  of  his 
ashamed 
tter  man 

my  feel- 
0  ef  you 


Loys  (IoiTl  iet  uj)  I  reckon  I'll  have  to  erawl  baek  in 
the  snow  (fjfl  stay  tiiere." 

Even  Xel-te  sh(»wed  delight  at  the  retiii-n  of  his 
l)laymate  by  (Middling  up  to  him,  and  stroking  his 
M'eatherd>eaten  cheeks,  and  coniidiiig  to  hini  how  verv 
hungry  he  was. 

"Me,  too,  Cap'n  Kid  I"  exclaimed  Jalap  ('oond)s  ; 
"and  I  must  say  you're  a  mighty  templing  mossel  to 
a  man  as  nigh  starved  as  I  be.  Jest  al)out  broiling  age, 
plump  (uid  tender.  Cap'n  Kid,  look  out,  for  I'm  mi<dit  v 
inclined  to  stow  ye  away." 

"Try  this  instead,"  laughed  Phil,  holding  out  a 
chunk  of  frozen  ])emmican  that  he  had  just  i;hoj»jted 
olT.  "  We're  in  the  biggest  kind  of  luck  to-day,"  he 
continued.  "I  didn't  know  there  was  a  mouthl'ul  of 
anything  to  eat  on  this  sledge,  and  here  I've  just  found 
about  five  pounds  of  pemniican.  It  does  seem  to  me  the 
very  best  pemniican  that  ever  was  put  up,  too,  and  I 
only  wonder  that  we  didn't  cat  it  lonu:  ^^o.  I'm  sxoinir 
to  get  my  aunt  Ruth  to  make  me  a  lot  of  it  just  as 
soon  as  ever  I  get  home." 

By  this  time  the  fire  was  blazing  merrily,  and  the 
chynik  was  beginning  to  sing.  ^lusky,  l.uvtuk,  and 
big  Amook  had  each  received  a  portion  of  the  jire- 
cious  ijcmniican,  swallowed  it  at  a  gulp,  and  were; 
wagging  their  bushy  tails  in  anxious  exi)ectation  of 
more,  while  the  spirits  of  the  whole  party  were  at  the 
top-notch  of  contentment. 

As  they  sat  before  the  fire  on  a  tree  felled  and 
stripped  of  its  branches  for  the  purpose,  and  munched 
frozen  ])emmican,  and  took  turns  in  sipping  strong  un- 
sweetened tea  from  the  only  cu|)  now  left  to  them. 
Jalap  Coombs  described  his  thrilling  experiences  of 
the  preceding  night. 

According  to  his  story,  one  of  his  (h)gs  gave  out,  and 
he  stopped  to  unharness  it  with  the  hope  that  it  Avould 


>iS8S;ii*'i4ii<tUisjii»itj(.' 


232 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLED(JES 


)  '      » 


:1   4       ' 


still  have  sti'enij;tli  to  follow  tlio  Rknlgo.  While  lie 
was  thus  ('ii<j;ag('(i  Ihc  storm  broke,  tlu;  blinding  rush 
of  snow  swt'i)t  over  the  iiioU!itaiiis,  and  as  ho  looked 
up  lie  found  to  his  <lisniav  that  the  other  sledge  was 
alrea<lv  lost  to  vi(?w.  He  at  once  started  to  overt:d<e 
it,  urging  on  the  reluctant  dogs  by  every  means  in  his 
jK)wer;  but  after  a  few  minutes  of  struggle  agaiiist 
the  furious  gale,  they  lay  (b)wn  and  refused  to  mo\c. 
After  (Mitting  their  traces  that  tliev  might  follow  him 
if  they  chose,  the  man  set  forth  alone,  with  bowed  head 
and  uncertain  steps,  on  a  hopeless  (]uest  for  his  com- 
rades. He  did  m)t  lind  them,  as  wc  know,  though  o?i('0 
lie  lieard  a  faint  cry  from  oil:  to  one  side.  Heading  in 
that  direction,  the  next  thiiig  lu^  knew  lu;  had  plunged 
over  the  j)recij)ice,  and  found  himself  sliding,  rolling, 
and  bounding  downward  with  incredible  velocity. 

"The  trij)  must  have  lasted  an  hour  or  more,"  said 
Jalap  Coombs,  sol)erly,  in  describing  it,  "and  when  I 
linallv  brung  up  all  standing,  I  couldn't  make  out  for 
quite  a  s])ell  whether  I  were  still  on  to])  of  the  earth 
or  had  gone  ])]umb  through  to  the  other  side.  I 
kiiowed  cverv  rib  and  timlxw  of  mv  framinu'  were 
broke,  and  every  ])lank  started  ;  but  somehow  I  man- 
aged to  keej)  my  head  abovt  water,  and  struck  out  for 
shore.  I  made  port  under  a  tree,  and  went  to  sleep. 
When  I  woke  at  the  end  of  the  watch,  I  found  all 
liatches  closed  and  battened  down.  80  I  were  jest 
turning  over  again  when  I  heerd  a  hail,  and  knowed  I 
were  Avanted  on  deck.  And,  boys,  I've  had  hap])y  mo- 
ments in  my  life,  but  I  reckon  the  haj)j)iest  of  'em  all 
Avere  when  I  broke  out  and  seen  you  two,  with  the  kid, 
standing  <)uiet  and  res])ectful,  and  heerd  ye  saying, 
'  (T(M^d  morning,  sir,  and  hoping  you've  |)assed  a  (juiet 
night,'  like  1  were  a  full-rigged  cap'n." 

"  As  you  certainly  deserve  to  be,  ^Fr.  (.^oombs," 
laughed   Phil,  "  and  as  I  believe  you  will   be  before 


now  .lALxVi'  cofiMns   madI':   tout 


2;>3 


lilo  ho 
g  rush 
looked 
f^i  was 
,'urtake 
i  in  Ills 
aujaiiist 
»  move, 
^w  hi  in 
'(1  head 
is  com- 

Jfll    OIU'O 

(liii^  in 
»hniij;('d 
vollini::, 

tA'. 

•e,"  said 
when  I 
out  i'or 
c  oarth 
ide.      I 
o-   were 
1  man- 
out,  I'ov 
,o  sU,'ep. 
uiul   all 
ere   jest 
iiowed  I 
]>]»y  nio- 
■  'eiu  all 
the  kid, 
sayinix, 
a  ([uiet 

loonihs," 
b  he  Tore 


lone,',  for  I  don't  think  we  can   Ite  very  far  from  salt 
water  at  this  moment." 

""It's  heen  seeminLC  to  me  that  1  couM  smell  it  I*' e\- 
(daimed  the'  sailor-man,  eagerly  snillluL;'  tlu'  air  as  he 
sjioke.  "And,  ef  you'i'(!  au'r<'eahK',  sir,  I  moves  that 
we  set  sail  for  it  at  onco.  Mv  hidl's  i)reltv  well  bat- 
lered  and  stove  in,  hut  top  works  is  solid,  standinsjj 
and  runninuc  riijiijinuj  all  risjfht,  and  I  reckon  by  steady 


t» 


l)uni})ing  wo  can  navigate  the  old  craft  to  port  yet/' 
"All  aboard,  then!  Up  anchor,  and  let's  bu  off 
sIkuUcmI  Phil,  so  excited  at  the  ])rospect  of  a  speedy 
termination  to  their  journey  that  he  could  not  bi-ar  a 
moment's  lougei'  <lilay  in  attainine;  it.  At  jiresent  he 
cared  little  that  they  had  evidently  waiulered  far  from 
the  Chilkat  trail,  as  was  shown  by  the  westward  trend 
of  the  valley  in  which  they  now  found  themselves. 
That  it  still  descended  sharply,  and  by  following  it 
they  must  eventually  reach  the  ocean,  was  enough. 

So  they  set  meri'ily  and  hopefully  forth,  aiul  fol- 
lowed the  windings  of  the  valley,  keeping  just  beyond 
the  forest  edge.  In  sunnner-timt' they  would  have  i'ouud 
it  filled  with  impassable  ol)st.'icles — huge  bowldei-s,  land- 
slides, a  net-work  of  logs  and  fallen  trees,  and  a  maring 
tori'ent  ;  but  now  it  was  ])ack(Ml  with  snow  to  such  an 
incredible  dei)th  that  all  these  things  lav  lar  beneath 
their  feet,  and  the  Avay  was  made  easy. 

JJy  nightfall  they  had  reached  tlie  nH)uth  (d'  the 
valley,  and  saw,  o))ening  before  them,  one  so  much 
Avider  that   it  reminded   them  of  the  broad  e.\})anse  of 


the  f 


roz")! 


Vuk 


on. 


'J' I 


le  coill'S(^  o 


f  th 


is  new  valley  was 


almost  north  and  south,  and  they  felt  certain  that  it 
nnist  lead  to  the  sea.  In  s])ite  of  their  anxiety  to  fol- 
low it,  darkness  compelled  thiun  to  seek  a  camping- 
place  in  the  timber.  That  evening  they  ate  all  that 
remained  of  the'ir  ])emmican,  exce)>ting  a  small  bit 
that  was  reserved  for  Nel-tc's  breakfast. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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I.I 


11.25 


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14    1111.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


'>i  V'JST  iMIN  STREET 

WEbSi£R,N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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234 


SNOW-SHOES    AND   SLEDGES 


hi 


I  ; 


Bi  i 


II!     ! 

I 


;;i'v;. 


They  made  up,  as  far  as  possible,  for  their  lack  of 
food  I»y  building  the  most  gorcjeous  camp-lire  of  the 
entire  journey.  They  felled  several  green  trees  close 
together,  and  built  it  on  them  so  that  it  should  not 
melt  its  way  down  out  of  sight  through  the  deej) 
snow.  Then  tl!<'/  felled  dead  trees  and  cut  them  into 
logs.  These,  together  with  dead  branches,  they  piled 
up,  until  they  liad  a  structure  forty  feet  long  by  ten 
feet  high.  They  set  fire  to  it  with  the  last  match  in 
their  possession,  .and  as  the  flames  gathered  headway 
and  roared  and  leaped  to  the  very  tops  of  the  sur- 
rounding trees,  even  Phil  was  obliged  to  acknowledge 
that  at  last  he  was  thoroughly  and  uncomfortably 
warm.  The  contrast  between  that  night  and  the  pre- 
vious one,  passed  in  a  snow  burrow  high  up  on  the 
mountains,  amid  the  bowlings  of  a  furious  gale,  with- 
out food,  fire,  or  hope,  was  so  wonderful  that  all  de- 
clared thev  had  lived  months  since  that  dreadful  time 
instead  of  )idy  a  few  hours. 

The  following  morning  poor  Jalap  was  so  stlfT  and 
lais'O  that  his  face  was  contorted  with  pain  when  he  at- 
tempted to  rise. 

"Never  mind,"  he  cried,  cheerily,  as  he  noted  Phil's 
anxious  expression,  "  I'll  fetch  it.  Just  give  me  a  few 
minutes'  leeway." 

Ajid,  sure  enough,  in  a  few  minutes  ho  was  on  liis 
feet  rubbing  his  legs,  stretching  his  arms,  and  twisting 
Ids  body  "to  limber  up  the  j'ints."  Although  in  a 
torment  of  pain,  he  soon  declared  himself  ready  for 
the  day's  tramp,  and  they  set  forth.  Ere  they  had 
gone  half  a  mile,  however,  it  was  evident  that  he  could 
walk  no  farther.  The  pain  of  the  effort  was  too  great 
even  for  his  sturdy  determination,  and  when  he  finally 
sank  down  with  a  groan,  the  boys  helped  him  on  the 
sledge,  and  attached  themselves  to  its  pulling-bar  with 
long  thongs  of  rawliidc. 


now   JALAP    COOMBS    .MADE    I'ORT 


235 


•  lack  of 
re  of  tlio 
COS  closo 
lould  not 
the    (U'«.']> 
lioni  iiiti) 
iu'V  i)ik'(l 
nr  bv  ton 
match  in 
hca<l\vay 
the  snr- 
no\vk'<li2;e 
n fort ably 
I  the  [ire- 
ip  on  the 
jalo,  witli- 
at  all  (lo- 
ci fnl  time 

»  stiff  and 
ion  he  at- 

tod  Phil's 
nic  a  few 

as  on  his 
twistinijj 
)ugh  in  a 
oadv  for 
they  had 
he  could 
too  jrreat 
ho  finally 
m  on  the 
'-bar  with 


The  two  stalwart  young  follows,  together  with  throe 
flogs,  made  a  strong  team,  but  the  snow  was  so  soft, 
and  their  load  so  heavy,  tha^  by  noon  they  had  not 
made  more  than  ton  miles.  They  had,  however,  reached 
the  end  of  their  second  valley,  and  come  upon  a  most 
extraordinary  scene.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  on 
either  side  stretched  a  vast  ])lain  of  frozen  whiteness. 
On  its  farther  border,  directly  in  front  of  them,  but 
some  ten  miles  away,  rose  a  chain  of  mountains  bisect- 
ed by  a  deep,  wide  cut  like  a  gateway. 

"  It  must  be  an  arm  of  the  sea,  frozen  over  and  cov- 
ered with  snow,"  said  Phil. 

"  But,"  objected  Sorgo,  "  on  this  coast  no  such  body 
of  salt  water  stays  frozen  so  late  in  the  season;  for  we 
are  well  into  April  now,  you  know." 

"  Then  it  is  a  groat  lake.'* 

"I  never  hoard  of  any  lake  on  this  side  of  the  moun- 
tains." 

"  I  don't  reckon  it's  the  sea;  but  salt  water's  mighty 
nigh,"  said  Jalap  Coombs,  snifling  the  air  as  eagerly  as 
a  hound  on  the  scent  of  game. 

"  Whatever  it  is,"  said  Phil,  "we've  got  to  cross  it, 
and  I  am  going  to  head  straight  for  that  opening." 

So  they  au^ain  bent  to  their  traces,  and  a  few  hours 
later  had  crossed  the  great  white  plain,  and  wonsskirt- 
inor  the  l)ase  of  a  mountain  that  rose  on  their  loft.  Its 
splintered  crags  showed  the  dull  red  of  iron  rust  wher- 
ever they  were  bare  of  snow,  and  only  thin  frinjxes  of 
snow  were  to  be  seen  in  its  more  sheltered  gorges. 

Suddenly  Phil  halted,  his  face  ])alod,  and  his  lips 
quivered  with  emotion.  "The  sea  I"  he  gasped.  "  Over 
there,  Serge  !" 

Jalap  Coombs  caught  the  words  and  was  oji  his  foot 
in  an  instant,  all  his  pains  forgotten  in  a  desire  to  once 
more  catch  a  glimpse  of  his  beloved  salt  water. 

"Yes,"  replied  Serge,  after  a  long  look.     "It  cor- 


■4^ 


i  ■(■■-■ 


23G 


SNOW-SHOES   AND    SLEDGES 


tainly  is  a  narrow  bay.  IIow  I  wisli  we  knew  wliat 
one  !  But,  Pliil  I  wliat  is  tliat  down  there  near  the 
foot  of  tlie  clilfs  ?     Is  it — can  it  be — a  liouse  ?" 

"  Where  ?"  cried  I'hil.     "  Yes,  I  see  !     I  do  believe 
it  is  !     Yes,  it  certainly  is  a  house." 


!!i,       1    ! 


it'll 
I'll 


! 


IP  ' 


(     1 

1 1 

I: 

I 
f 

1 

1' 

!  ' 


' 


CIIAPTEIl   XXXVI 
THE    MOST    FAMOUS    ALASKAX    GLACIER 

That  little  liouso  nestling  at  the  base  of  a  precipi- 
tous mountain,  and  still  nearly  a  mile  awav,  was  just 
tlien  a  more  fascinating  sight  to  our  lialf-starved,  toil- 
worn  travellers  than  even  the  sea  itself,  and,  filled'with 
a  hopeful  excitement,  they  hastened  towards  it      The 
M-ay  led  down  a  steep  incline,  and  aioj.g  a  shallow,  tree- 
less valley,  shut  off  from  the  water  on^  their  ri-ht  hv  a 
ndge  a  inmdred   feet  or  so  in  height.     Fronuhis  de- 
pression the  house  Avas  hidden  until  they  were  directlv 
upon  It;   but  the  knowledge  that  it  was  there  tilled 
tliem  with  cheerfid  anticipations  of  food,  warmth,  rest, 
and  a  hearty  welcome  from  people  of  their  own  race 
it   was   probably   a  salmon  cannery  or  salterv    ov   a 
trading-post.    At  any  rate,  the  one  house  th(>v  had  dis- 
covered  was  that  of  a  white  man;  for  it  had  a\.himnev 
and  none  of  the  Tlingits  or  natives  of  southern  Alaska 
inuld  chimneys. 

While  Phil  and  Jalap  Coombs  were  full  of  confi- 
(  ence  that  a  few  minutes  more  would  find  them  in  a  set- 
t  ement  of  white  men,  8erge  was  greatly  ,>ux/led,  and 
tl.ough  he  said  little,  kept  up  a  deal  of'thi,d<inc.  as  he 
tugged  at  the  rawhide  sledge-trace.  Jf(>  fdt  tliat  he 
ought  to  know  the  place,  for  he  did  not  believe  thev 
were  more  than  one  hundre.l  miles  from  Sitka;  but  he 
could  not  remember  having  heard  of  anv  white  settle- 
ment on  that  part  of  tin,  coast,  except  at  the  C'hilkat 


i¥ 


2:58 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND    sr.KIXJKS 


camiery,  aiul  tliis  place  did  not  coiTespoiid  in  any  par- 
ticular with  what  lie  had  heard  of  that. 

At  length  they  rounded  the  last  low  s})ur  of  the 
ridge,  and  came  upon  the  liouse  only  a  few  rods  awaj'. 
For  a  few  moments  they  stood  motionless,  regarding  it 
in  silence,  and  with  a  bitter  disappointment.  It  was 
roughly  Ijut  substantially  constructed  of  sawed  lum- 
ber, had  a  shingled  roof,  two  glass  Avindows,  a  heavy 
door,  and  a  great  outside  chimney  of  rough  stone.  But 
it  Avas  closed  and  deserted.  No  hos))itable  smoke  curled 
from  its  chimney,  there  was  no  voice  of  welcome  nor 
sign  of  human  presence.  Nor  was  there  another  build- 
ing of  any  kind  in  sight.  The  little  cabin  in  the  now 
distant  wilderness  from  which  Phil  had  taken  Nel-te 
l»ad  not  been  more  lonely  than  this  one. 

"I  suppose  Ave  may  as  Avell  keep  on  and  examine  the 

interior  now  that  we've   come  so   far,"  said    Phil,  in 

a  disgusted   tone  that  readily  betrayed    his    feelings. 

"There  doesn't  seem  to  be  any  one  around  to  prevent 

,us.     I  only  Avish  there  Avas." 

So  they  i)ushed  open  the  door,  Avliich  Avas  fastened 
but  not  locked,  and  stopped  inside.  The  cabin  con- 
tained but  a  single  large  room  furnished  with  several 
sleei)ing-bunks,  a  stout  table,  and  a  number  of  seats, 
all  home-made  from  unplaned  lumber.  3[uch  rubbish, 
including  empty  bottles  and  tin  cans,  was  scattered 
about  ;  but  it  Avas  evident  that  everything  of  value 
had  been  removed  by  the  last  occupants.  The  chief 
feature  of  the  room  AA\as  an  immense  and  rudely  artis- 
tic fireplace  at  its  farther  end.  Above  this  hung 
a  smooth  board  skilfully  decorated  Avith  charcoal 
^sketches,  and  bearing  the  legend  "  Camp  3Iuir." 

As  Serge  caught  sight  of  this  he  uttered  an  exclama- 
tion. "  NoAv  I  know  Avhero  avo  arc  !"  he  cried.  "  Come 
■with  me,  Phil,  and  I  Avill  show  you  one  of  the  grand 
sights  of  tiie  world," 


11  any  i)fir- 

[)ur  of  the 
rods  luvay. 
.'gardini;  it 
it.  It  was 
awt'd  hurl- 
's, a  heavy 
<tono.  But 
loko  curlod 
olcoino  nor 
ither  l>uild- 
iii  the  now 
ikon  Nel-to 

'xatniiu'  the 

id    Phil,  in 

is    feelings. 

to  prevent 

as  fastened 
cabin  con- 
itli  several 
r  of  seats, 
C'li  rubbish, 
s  scattered 
(T  of  vaiuo 

riie  chief 

udely  artis- 

this    liung 

I    charcoal 

uir." 

n  exclania- 
d.    "C^omo 

the  izrand 


THE   MOST    FAMOUS    ALASKAN'   (JLACIKK 


'2:]9 


Willi  this  he  dashed  out  of  the  door,  and  ran 
towards  the  beach  ridge  behind  which  tlie  cal/in  stood. 
Phil  followed,  wonderini;  curiouslv  wliat  his  friend 
could  mean.  As  they  reached  the  low  crest  of  tlie 
ridge  he  understood  ;  for  outspread  before  him,  bathed 
in  a  rosy  light  by  the  setting  sun,  was  a  spectacle  that 
tourists  travel  from  all  j)arts  of  the  world  to  gaze  upon. 

A  preci])itous  line  of  ice-cliffs  of  marble  whiteness 
or  heavenly  blue,  two  miles  long  and  hundreils  of  feet 
in  lieight,  carveil  into  spii'es,  ]>iunacles,  minarets,  and 
a  thousand  other  fantastic  shapes,  rose  in  fro/en 
majesty  at  the  liead  of  a  little  bay  whose  waters 
washed  the  beach  at  their  feet.  Ere  either  of  the 
boys  could  find  words  to  express  his  delight  and 
wonder,  a  huge  mass  of  the  lofty  wall  broke  away  and 
])lunged  into  the  sea,  with  a  thunderous  roar  that 
echoed  and  re-echoed  from  the  enclosing  mountains. 
For  a  moment  it  disa])p(^ared  in  a  milky  cloud  of 
foam  and  spray.  Then  it  shot  up  from  the  de))ths 
like  some  stupendous  submarine  monster,  and,  with  tor- 
rents of  water  streaming  from  it  in  glittering  cascades, 
floated  on  the  heaving  surface  a  new-born  iceberg. 

"It  must  be  a  glacier,"  said  Phil,  in  an  awe-stricken 
tone. 

"  It  is  a  glacier,"  answered  Serge,  triumphantly,  "  and 
one  of  the  most  famous  in  the  world,  for  it  is  the  Mint, 
which  is  larger  and  ctontains  more  ice  than  all  the 
eleven  hundred  glaciers  of  Switzerland  put  together. 
That  cabin  is  the  one  occu])ied  by  John  ]Muir  and  his 
companions  when  they  exi)lored  it  in  1890.  To  think 
that  we  should  have  come  down  one  of  its  branches, 
and  even  crossed  the  great  glacier  itself,  without 
knowino:  what  it  was  !  I  believe  we  would  have  known 
it,  though,  if  the  snow  hadn't  been  so  deep  as  to  alter 
the  whole  character  of  its  surface." 

"If   this   is   the  Muir  Glacier,"  reflected    Phil,  "[ 


1 


' 

rM 

h 

'  v"«PH 

1  ' 

i,  ^)     !    ■     'j^f  W 

1  ' 

!  :    .    '  ■■■;•;  r 

\i    ■■    1:  ■'  ^« 

, 

■ 

?'■■  ■  i-^ 

'!■!' 

J 

''■   J               ■.       ■       . 

'i 

j,  M 

t 

'1 

J'i  '^ 


240 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


:|:. 


don't  see  but  wliat  we  are  in  a  box.  Wc  must  be  to 
the  westward  of  Cliilkat." 

"  Yes,"  said  8erge.  "  It  lies  to  the  eastward  of  those 
mountains." 

"  Whicli  don't  look  as  though  tliey  would  be  very 
easy  even  for  us  to  climb,  Avhile  I  know  we  couldn't 
get  Julap  and  Nel-te  over  them.  I  don't  suppose  any 
tourist  steamers  will  be  visiting  this  place  for  some 
time,  either." 

"  Not  for  two  months  at  least,"  replied  Serge. 

"Which  is  longer  than  we  can  afford  to  wait  with- 
out provisions  or  supj)lies  of  any  kind.  So  we  shall 
have  to  get  awa}^  somehow,  and  ])retty  quickly  too. 
It  doesn't  look  as  though  we  could  follow  the  coast 
any  farther,  though  ;  for  just  below  hero  the  cliffs 
seem  to  rise  sheer  from  the  water." 

"  No,"  said  Si'rge,  "  we  can't.  We  can  <udy  get  out 
by  boat  or  by  scaling  the  mountains." 

'"In  which  case  we  shall  starve  to  death  before  we 
have  a  chance  to  do  either,"  retorted  Phil,  gloomily, 
"for  we  are  pretty  nearly  starved  now.  In  fact,  old 
man,  it  looks  as  thoutih  the  <jjood-fortune  that  has 
Stood  by  us  during  the  wholu  of  this  journey  had  de- 
serted us  at  its  very  end." 

l>y  this  time  the  boys  had  strolled  back  to  the 
cabin,  which  was  left  by  the  setting  sun  in  a  dark 
shadow.  As  they  turned  its  corner  they  came  U[)on 
Nel-te  standing  outside  clapping  his  chubby  hands, 
and  gazing  upward  in  an  ecstasy  of  delight.  Follow- 
ing the  chiM's  glance  I'liil  uttered  a  startled  exclama- 
tion, and  sprang  through  the  doorway.  A  moment 
later  he  emerged,  rifle  in  hand. 

High  up  on  a  shouKlerof  the  mountain,  liundieds  of 
feet  above  the  cabin,  sharply  outlined  against  tint  sky, 
and  bathed  in  the  full  glory  of  the  setting  sun,  a  moun- 
tain goat,  with  immensely  thick  hair  of  snowy  white, 


;1! 


THE   MOST   FAMOUS   ALASKAN   GLAriri; 


241 


and  sharp  black  liorns,  stood  as  motionless  as  thoiiujh 
carved  from  mai'hlc,  liliiided  bv  the  suiilii'ht,  and 
Ijulioving  himself  to  be  surrounded  by  a  solituile  un- 
tenanted by  enemies,  lie  saw  not  the  (juietly  movincj 
iij^ures  in  the  dim  shadows  beneath  him. 

Twice  did  Phil  raise  his  ritle  and  twice  did  he  lower 
it,  so  tremulous  was  he  with  excitement  ami  a  knowl- 
edi^e  that  four  human  lives  depended  on  the  result  of 
his  shot.  Tlu!  third  time  he  took  a  quick  aim  an<l 
tired.  As  the  report  echoed  sharj)ly  from  the  beetlinu^ 
cliffs,  tl  '  stricken  animal  ij^ave  a  mighty  leaj)  straii^ht 
out  into  space,  and  came;  whirlini;  downward  like  a 
threat  white  bird  with  broken  wings.  II(!  struck  twice, 
bu',  bounded  off  each  time,  and  linallv  lay  motionless, 
buried  in  the  snow  at  the  very  foot  of  the  mountain 
that  had  l)een  his  home. 

"Hurrah  I"  shouted  Phil.  "Xo  starvation  this  time! 
Luck  is  still  with  us,  after  all.  That  is,  Xcl-te  is  still 
with  us,  and  he  seems  to  carry  good  luck  ;  for  we 
certainly  sliouhl  not  have  seen  that  fellow  but  for  the 
little  chap.     So,  iiurrah,  old  man  I" 

But  Serge  needed  no  urging  this  time  to  shout  as 
loudly  as  Phil,  though  while  ho  shouted  he  got  tho 
sledge  ready  for  bringing  in  their  game. 

"  Seeing  as  how  we  hain't  got  no  lire  nor  no  matches, 
I  reckon  we'll  eat  our  meat  raw,  like  the  Huskies,"  said 
Jalap  Coombs,  dryl}--,  a  little  later,  as  they  began  to 
skin  and  cut  up  the  goat. 

"Whew!"  ejaculated  Phil.  "I  never  thought  of 
that.  But  I  know  how  to  make  a  fire  with  the  powder 
from  a  cartridge,  if  one  of  you  can  furnish  a  bit  of  cot- 
ton cloth." 

"  It  seems  a  ])ity  to  waste  a  cartridge,"  said  Serge, 
"  when  we  haven't  but  three  or  four  left,  and  a  single 
one  has  just  done  so  much  for  us.  I  think  I  can  get 
fire  in  a  much  more  economical  way." 

16 


r 


I '  • 


8i;   : 
If 


!  I 


242 


SNOW-SHOES    AM)   SI.KDGKS 


VM    1, 


1    il -,'?■" 


li&    1 


11  m 


"  How?"  quoriod  Phil. 

"  Yo  won't  liml  no  brimstono  nor  yet  featliors  hero," 
siiLTij^csteil  Jahi))  Coonil»s,  with  a  shako  of  liis  lioad. 

"Never  miiul,"  laMi^hed  Serge,  "you  two  keep  on 
cuttinij:  up  tiie  i^oat,  anil  by  the  time  your  job  is  cdui- 
])lete(l  I  think  I  can  promise  tliat  mine  will  be."  So 
ouyinfj,  Serge  entered  the  cabin  and  closed  the  door. 

In  a  ])ile  of  rubbish  he  had  noticed  several  small 
pieces  ol'  wood  and  a  <piantity  ol*  very  dry  l)otanical 
specimens,  sonu;  of  which  bore  ilufty  seed-vessels  that 
could  be  used  as  tinder.  Jle  selected  a  bit  of  soft  pine, 
and  worked  a  small  hole  in  it  with  the  ])oint  of  his 
knife.  Next  he  whittled  out  a  thick  })encil  of  the 
hardest  wood  he  could  find,  sharpened  one  end  and 
rounded  the  other.  In  a  block  of  hard  wood  lie  dug 
a  cavity,  into  which  the  rounded  toj)  of  the  pencil 
would  tit.  lie  found  a  section  of  barrel  hoop,  and 
strung  it  very  loosely  witli  a  length  of  rawhide  from  a 
dog  harness,  so  as  to  make  a  small  bow.  Finally  he 
took  a  turn  of  the  bow-string  about  the  pencil,  fitted 
the  point  into  the  soft  pine  that  rested  on  the  floor,  and 
the  other  end  into  the  hard-wood  block,  on  which  he 
leaned  hi.-  breast. 

With  one  hand  he  now  drew  the  bow  swiftly  to  and 
^ro,  causing  the  pencil  to  revolve  with  great  rapidity, 
and  with  the  other  he  held  a  small  quantity  of  tinder 
close  to  its  point  of  contact  with  the  soft  jtine.  The 
rapid  movement  of  the  pencil  produced  a  few  grains  of 
fine  sawdust,  and  this  shortly  began  to  smoke  with  the 
heat  of  friction.  In  less  than  one  minute  the  sawdust 
and  tinder  were  in  a  glow  that  a  breath  fanned  into  a 
flame,  and  there  was  no  longer  anv  doubt  about  a  fire.* 


*This  is  the  Eskimo  method;  iuul  I  liavo  seen  a  Norton  Sound 
Eskhno  woman  ohtaui  lue  by  this  simple  means  inside  of  ten 
seconds. — K.  I\I. 


m 


1 «? 


;m-s  here," 

)  kt'ej)  on 
lb  is  ('(tin- 
be."     S,. 
le  door. 
Til  sniuU 
botanical 
ssels  thai 
soft  ])ine, 
iiit  oi"  his 
oil  of  the 
'  end  and 
nd  he  dnix 
the   pencil 
hoop,  and 
ide  froni  a 
Finally  he 
;ncil,  litted 
iloor,  and 
I  which  he 

tly  to  and 
t  rapidity, 
of  tinder 
Hne.  The 
^■  ij rains  of 
c  with  the 
le  sawdust 
ned  into  a 
lout  a  lire.* 


SKR(iK's    MKTlKlU    UK    l.K.lITINc;    A     FIIIK 


lorton  Sound 
Inside  of  ten 


!1; 


■:.|i 


m 


I 


fi;' fin 


'1«  If 


If  ■■ 

J. 

! 
I 

f1 

■ 

1; 

i-. 

;  * 


I 


i 


i    !! 


'.,'J    ! 


TIIK    MOST   FAMOLS    /.T.A.SKAN   GLACliac  -4;] 

That  ovoniM-  as  our  friiMi.lssat  oontcnfodlv  in  front 
of  a  choorful  Maze,  after  a  inoro  satisfactorv  m.-al  tl.„i 
tlioy  had  cM.joycd  for  n.any  a  day,  Jalap  Coon,l,s  n- 
inarkod  tliat  he  only  wanted  one  more  thin-  to  nnlc.. 
liini  perfectly  happy.  " 

"  Same  here,"  said  Phil.     "  What's  your  want  '^" 
"A  pipeful  of    tobaeco,"  n-plied    the  sailor,  whose 
whole  sniokm-  outlit  liad  been  l,)st  with  his  sled-r,. 

"All  I  want,"  laughed  Phil,  "is  to  know  how  and 
when  we  are  to  get  out  of  this  trap,  and  continue  our 
journey  to  Sitka.  I  liate  the  thought  of  spendi.K^  a 
couple  of  months  here,  even  if  tjierc  are  plentv^of 
goats."  *        ^ 

"  I  can't  think  of  anytliing  else  we  can  do,"  said 
Serge,  thoughtfully. 

And  yet  those  who  were  to  rescue  them  from  their 
perplexing  situation  were  within  live  miles  of  them  at 
tiiat  very  moment. 


Ill  1 

m  1 

i    ■■■        ■ '"  ■ 

CHAPTER   XXXVII 


;   ( 


BIG   AMOOK    AND    THE   CIIILKAT    HUNTERS 

"A  COAT  is  a  good  thing  so  far  as  it  goes,"  re- 
marked Phil,  c;ravelv,  "but  one  ijoat  divided  among 
one  man,  two  boys,  a  little  chap,  and  three  awfully 
hungry  dogs  isn't  likely  to  last  very  long.  With 
plenty  of  goats  ready  to  come  and  be  killed  as  wc 
wanted  them  we  might  hold  out  liere,  after  a  fashion, 
vmtil  the  arrival  of  a  tourist  steamer.  AVouldn't  that 
be  fun,  though  ?  And  wouldn't  we  astonish  the  tour- 
ists? But  how  we  should  hate  goat  by  that  time! 
Still,  I  don't  think  there  is  the  slightest  chance  of  our 
having  that  experience,  for  I  understand  that  mountain 
c:oats  are  anion fj  the  shyest  and  most  difficult  to  Mil  of 
all  wild  animals." 

"  That's  right,"  said  Sergo,  "  and  your  chance  for 
that  shot  was  one  of  the  luckiest  things  I  ever  heard 
of.  You  might  hunt  goats  for  years,  and  not  have  it 
hap])('n  again." 

'"Which  being  the  case,"  continued  Phil,  "it  won't 
do  for  us  to  live  as  though  avc  had  goats  to  squander. 
Consequently,  we  must  make  an  effort  to  get  out  of 
here  before  our  provision  is  exhausted.  As  wo  have 
no  boat  in  which  to  go  to  Sitka,  and  the  nearest  point 
at  which  we  can  obtain  one  is  Chilkat,  that  is  the  place 
we  have  got  to  reach  somehow.  So  I  ])ropose  that 
Serge  and  I  take  a  p^'ospecting  trip  into  the  mountains 
to-morrow,  and  see  what  chance  there  is  for  our  cross- 
ing them.     We  will  be  back  by  dark,  and,  with  the 


BIG    AMOOK   AND   THE    CIIILKAT   HUNTERS 


•245 


les  "  re- 

amoiig 
awfully 
With 
1  as  wc 
fashion, 
In't  that 
;he  tour- 
at  time! 
>e  of  our 
[lountain 

o  lill  of 

ance  for 
lor  heard 
have  it 

it  won't 
juander. 
[t  out  of 
Iwe  have 
L>st  point 
Iho  pLace 
lose  that 
lountains 
lur  cross- 
kvith  tlie 


knowledge  thus  gained,  perhaps  we  can  di'ci(h'  to- 
morrow evenimx  what  is  hest  to  be  dojie."' 

As  no  better  i)lan  than  this  was  offered,  Phil  and 
Serge  started  early  the  following  morning  on  tlieir 
tedious  climb.  Each  carried  a  ufun,  and  they  took 
Musky  and  Luvtuk  with  them  in  the  hope  of  getting 
a  bear,  as  Serge  had  heard  that  bears  were  plentifid 
in  those  mountains.  Nel-te  was  left  to  take  care  of 
the  hos})ital,  in  which  Jalap  Coombs,  with  his  many 
aches,  and  Amook,  with  his  cut  feet,  were  the  ])a- 
ticnts. 

That  afternoon  was  so  warm  that  the  door  of  tlie 
little  cabin  stood  wide  open.  IJefore  a  lire  that  smoul- 
dered on  the  broad  hearth  Jalap  Coombs  do/cd  in  a 
big  chair,  while  Xel-te  romped  with  Amook  on  the 
floor.  Now  the  little  chap  was  tantalizing  the  dog 
with  the  fur-seal's  tooth,  M'hich,  still  attached  to  its 
buckskin  thong,  he  had  taken  horn  his  neck.  lie 
would  d;rngle  it  close  to  Amook's  nose,  and  when  the 
dog  snapped  at  it  snatch  it  away  with  a  shout  of 
laughtei". 

Whili>  tlie  occupants  of  the  cabin  were  thus  en- 
gaged the  heads  of  several  Indians  were  suddenly  but 
cautiously  lifted  above  the  beach  ridge.  After  mak- 
ing certain  that  no  one  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the  house, 
one  of  their  number  swiftly  but  noiselessly  approached 
it.  Crouching  under  a  side  wall,  he  slowly  raised  his 
head.  A  single  cflance  seemed  to  satisfy  him,  for  he 
immediately  began  to  retrace  his  stc})s  as  ([uietly  as  he 
had  come. 

This  Indian  was  one  of  a  party  of  Chilkat  hunters 
who  liad  come  to  Glacier  ]>ay  in  j)ursuit  of  hair  seals, 
which  in  the  early  spring  delight  to  float  lazily  about 
on  the  drifting  ice-cakes.  They  had  camped  at  the 
mouth  of  Muir  Iidet  the  night  before,  and  duritig  the 
day  had  shnvlv  hunted  tluir  way  almost  to  the  foot  of 


mw 

m 


n 


■I''* 


; 


i 

Ik. 

1 
\ 
■1 

246 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


tlio  irreat  frlacior.  While  tlioro  tlicv  discovered  a  tliin 
sj)iral  of  smoke  curlinjj^  from  llie  oal)lii  chimney.  This 
so  aroused  their  euriosity  that  they  determined  to  in- 
vestigate its  cause.  They  imai^iiied  that  some  of  the 
interior  Indians,  who  were  strictly  forbiddim  by  the 
Chilkats  to  visit  the  coast,  liad  disobeyed  orders,  and 
come  to  this  unfrequented  ])lace  to  surreptitiously 
crather  in  a  few  seals.  In  that  case  the  liunters  would 
immediately  declai'e  war,  an<l  the  ])rospect  of  scalps 
caused  their  stolid  faces  to  light  and  their  dull  c^'cs  to 
glitter. 

AVhen  it  was  discovered  that  a  white  man  was  in  the 
cabin,  the  Indians  were  ii:reatly  disap|)ointed,  but  coji- 
cluded  to  withdraw  without  allowiiiLj  him  to  suspect 
their  ])resence,  for  the  Chilkats  have  no  love  for  ^vhite 
men.  But  for  Xel-te  and  Amook  they  would  Jiave 
succeeded  in  this,  ;ind  our  travellers  would  never  have 
known  of  their  dusky  visitors,  or  the  chance  for  escape 
offered  by  their  canoes. 

If  the  fur-seal's  tooth  had  been  able  to  speak  just 
then  it  would  have  said,  "I  am  disgusted  with  the 
ways  of  white  people.  In  their  liaiuls  I  am  treated 
with  no  respe(!t.  They  lose  me  and  iind  me  again  with 
indifference.  They  even  give  m((  to  children  and  (b)gs 
as  a  plaything.  How  different  wiis  my  position  among 
the  iu)ble  Chilkats  !  l>y  their  Shamans  and  chiefs  I 
was  venerated  ;  by  the  common  ])eople  I  was  feared  ; 
wliile  all  recognized  my  extraordinary  powers.  To 
them  I  am  determined  to  return." 

Willi  this  the  fur-seal's  tooth,  which  was  at  that  mo- 
ment dangling  from  Xel-te's  hand,  gave  itself  such  a 
vigorous  forward  swing  that  Amook  was  able  to  seize 
the  buckskin  thong,  which  immediately  slipped  into  a 
secure  ])lace  between  two  of  his  sharp  teeth.  As  Nel-to 
attempted  to  snatch  back  his  plaything,  the  dog  sprang 
up  and  darted  from  the  open  doorway. 


IJIU    AMOOK  AND   THE   CIIILKAT    IIUNTKKS 


247 


a  thin 

Tins 

to  in- 

of  the 

by  tlu' 

rs,  and 

tiously 

1  would 

scalps 

eyes  to 

s  in  the 
)nt  co)i- 
snspcct 
)!•  ^vhito 
Id  ]iave 
,or  liave 
r  escape 

oak  just 
vith  llie 


trea 


ted 

Ih 


;un  wi 


.nd  dogs 

|i  among 

•hiefs  I 


I'earec 


3l'S. 


1; 

To 


that  mo- 

|f  such  a 

to  seize 

}d  into  a 

Nel-te 

Ig  sprang 


At  that  moment  the  Indian  wlio  liad  inspected  the 
cabin  was  just  disappearing  over  the  beach  ridge.  At 
sight  of  liim  Amook  uttered  a  yelp,  and  started  in  pur- 
suit. The  Indian  heard  him,  and  ran.  He  s})rang  into 
the  canoe,  already  occupied  by  Ids  fellows,  and  slioved 
it  off  as  Amook,  barking  furiously,  gained  the  water's 
edge.  Lying  a  few  feet  away,  and  resting  on  their 
paddles,  the  Indians  taunted  him.  Suddenly  one  of 
their  number  called  attention  to  the  curious  wliite  ob- 
ject dansrlimj  from  the  dotj's  moutli.  Thev  gazed  at  it 
with  ever-increasing  excitement,  and  finally  one  of  them 
Ix'gan  to  load  Ids  c^un  with  the  intention  of  sliootinir 
the  dog,  and  so  securing  the  coveted  trophy  that  so 
miraculously  appeared  lianging  from  Ins  jaws.  Ere 
lie  could  carry  out  his  cruel  intention  little  Nel-te  ap- 
peared over  the  ridge  in  hot  pursuit  of  his  j)laj''mato. 
Without  paying  the  slightest  heed  to  the  Indians,  he 
ran  to  the  doof,  disenfjacjed  the  buckskin  thong  from  his 
teeth,  slipped  it  over  his  own  liead,  tucked  the  tooth 
carefidly  inside  his  little  parka,  and  started  back  tow- 
ards the  cabin.  Amook  followed  him,  while  tiie  Indians 
regarded  the  whole  transaction  with  blaidc  amazement. 

Both  Nel-te  and  Amook  regained  the  cabin,  and 
were  engaged  in  another  romp  on  its  lloor  before  Jalap 
Coombs  aw^oke  from  his  nap.  A  little  later,  when  ho 
was  surprised  by  the  ap))earance  of  half  a  dozen  Ind- 
ians before  the  door,  he  thrust  the  child  and  dog  be- 
hind him,  and  standing  in  the  opening,  axe  in  hand, 
boldly  faced  the  new-comers.  In  vain  did  they  talk, 
shout,  point  to  Nel-te,  and  gesticulate.  The  only  idea 
they  conveyed  to  the  sailor-m:in  w:is  that  they  had 
come  to  carry  "  C^a|)'n  Kid"  back  to  tlu^  wilderness. 

"Which  ye  sha'n't  liave  him,  ye  bloody  pirates! 
Not  so  long  as  old  Jalap  can  swing  an  axe !"  he  cried, 
at  length  wearied  of  their  vociferations  aiul  slammintr 
the  door  in  their  faces. 


1 


^!#; 


!  I, 


m- 


248 


SXOW-SIIOES    AND   SLEDGES 


In  spite  of  tliis  the  Iiulians  were  so  determined  to 
attain  their  ol)ject  tliat  they  were  phanninuj  for  an  at- 
taek  on  the  cabin,  wlien  all  at  once  tliere  came  a  harlc- 
inf^  of  other  <h)i^s,  and,  lookini^  in  that  direction,  tliey 
saw  two  more  white  men,  armed  witli  guns,  coming 
rapidly  towards  them. 

"Hello  in  the  lionse  !  Are  yon  safe?  What  is  tlie 
meaning  of  all  this?"  cried  Phil,  in  front  of  the  closed 
dooi". 

"Aye,  aye,  sir  I"  replied  Jala])  Coombs,  joyfully,  lling 
ing  it  opi'ti.  "  We're  safe  enough  so  far  ;  but  them 
black  swabs  overhauled  ns  awhile  ago,  aii<l  gav(^  out  as 
liow  they'd  got  to  have  Caj)'n  Kid.  I  double-shotted 
the  guns,  stationed  the  crew  at  (puirters,  and  returned 
reply  that  they  couldn't  liave  liim.  'J'hen  they  run  nj) 
the  black  Hag  and  allowed  they'd  blow  the  ship  out  of 
water.  With  that  I  declined  to  liold  further  commu- 
nication, cleared  for  action,  and  i)repared  to  rejjel 
boarders.'' 

In  the  meantitne  Serge  was  talking  to  the  natives  in 
C'hinook  jai'gou.     Suddenly  lie  exclaimed  : 

"They  are  Chilkats,  Phil,  aiul  they  want  something 
that  they  seem  to  think  is  in  Xel-t(!'s  possession." 

"In  Nel-te's  possession'?"  repeated  Phil,  in  a  ))U/.- 
/led  tone.  "AVhat  can  they  mean?  I  don't  see  how 
they  can  know  anything  about  Xel-te,  anyway.  They 
can't  mean  the  fur-seal's  tooth,  can  they?" 

"That  is  exactly  what  thev  do  mean!''  replied 
Serg<\  after  asking  the  natives  a  few  more  (juestions. 
"Thev  say  it  is  hanging  about  his  neck,  inside  of  his 

1        " 

])arka. 

"How  long  have  these  people  been  here,  Mr. 
Coombs?"  (pieried  Phil. 

"Not  more  'n  ten  minutes." 

"Have  they  seen  Nel-te?" 

"No,  for  he  hain't  been  outside  the  door." 


i  i 


niiH'd  to 
)!•  an  at- 
j  a  bark- 
ion,  tllt'V 
,  coming 

lat  is  the 
,lic  closed 

illyjlintx 
but  tlu'Ml 
ivc  out  as 
le-shottc(l 
I  returned 
cy  run  up 
hip  out  of 
>r  comniu- 
[    to   repel 

natives  in 

sonK'tbing 
ion." 

in  a  i)uz- 
't  see  liow 
xy.     They 

|r'    ri'plied 

(pieslions. 

iside  of  bis 

here,   Mr. 


1^, 


iv       ^      i  , 


I]':;    If 


|;^'     :■     ! 

i'^.      :■■■  ' 

*  '   • 

■I      ■ . 

,1: 


if 


1:1. 


» 

f: 

■  !- 

■. 

fi 

[1 

iMn, 

t   «'  1  ■'  '    ' 

■I's-  -   i ':  : 

.'■■  jIv    ^  ' 

■■:'i,      i    ■     '-'           :       ■: 

; ) 


BIG    AMOOK   AND   THE   CIIILKAT    lUNTKRS  240 

"  Could  tlioy  liave  seen  him  at  any  time  (liiriii<'-  the 
(lay  ?" 

"  Xot  without  me  knowini,'  it  ;  for  he  hain't  left  my 
side  seiiee  you  boys  went  away." 

"Tlien  it  is  more  certain  than  ever  that  there  is 
magic  connected  with  the  fur-seal's  tooth,  and  that  the 
Cliilkats  are  in  some  way  involved  in  it.  How  else 
could  they  possibly  have  known  that  it  was  in  our  pos- 
session, just  Avhere  to  find  us,  and,  above  all,  the  exact 
position  of  the  tooth  at  this  moment?'' 

"It  surely  does  look  redicerlous,"  nu'ditated  Jalap 
Coombs;  while  Serire  said  he  was  t,da.l  l*liil  was  be- 
coming so  reasonable  and  willing  to  see  things  in  a 
true  light. 

"  How  did  these  fellows  get  here  ?"  asked  Phil. 
"  They  say  they  came  in  canoes,"  i-epli(>d  Serge. 
"Ask  them  if  they  will   take  us  to  Sitka,  provided 
we  will  give  them  the  fur-seal's  tooth  ?" 
"No;  the  Indians  could  not  dc  that." 
"Will  they  give  us  a  canoe  in  exchange  for  it?" 
"They  say  they  will,"  rei)lied  Serge,  "if  we  will  go 
with  them  to  their  village  and  allow    their  Shaman 
(medicine-man)  to  examine  the  tooth,  and  see  whether 
or  not  it  is  the  genuiiu'  article." 

"AVon't  that  be  awfully  out  of  our  way?" 
"Yes,  I  should  think  about  seventy-iive  miles  ;  but 
then  we  may  find  a  steamer  there  that  will  take  us  to 
Juneau,  or  even  to  Sitka  itself." 

"It  would  certainly  be  better  than  staying  here,"  re- 
flected Phil.      "And  I  know  that  neither  Serge  nor  I 
wants  to  try  the  mountain  trail  again  after  what  we 
have  seen  to-dav.     So  I  vote  for  going  to  Chilkat.'' 
"So  do  I,"  assented  Serge. 

"Same  here,"  said  Jala})  Coond)s  ;  "  though  ef  any- 
body liad  told  me  half  an  hour  ago  that  I'd  been  ship- 
ping for  a  cruise  along  with  them  black  j.ii-ates  before 


■      ) 


250 


SNOW-STIOES   AND   SLKDGES 


Riippcr-time,  I'd  sartaiiily  dotibtod  liitn.  It  only  goes 
to  ])rove  what  my  old  friend  Kite  llobcM'son  usotcr  say, 
wliicli  were,  'Them  as  don't  expect  nothing  is  oftenest 
surprised.' " 


I 


■■|u 


M''.  ■;: 


B!^  •'    ) 


•'  I, 


li- 

p.-J-i 

i'f            i 

.P 

;■■       ! 

H, 

t 

1:  , 


t  ■■     } 

]-' 

i  1 

:  1 

■),." 

Li, 

inly  goes 
ictor  say, 
i  ofteiiost 


CHAPTER    XXXVm 
THE    TUEACIIKnoLS    SIIAjrAX    OV   KLUKWAS 

So  (lolisl.tcl  ,vero  tl,o  Chilkat  liuntor,  to  know  tli.U 
tlK.y  uxM-o  to  l.avo  tl,o  honor  of  convoyin.  the  fl," 
seal  .  too,!,  hack  ,o  thoir  tribe   tl.at  ,1, oy  "vi    ,ccl    o 
start  at  o,„-e.     Tl„.  wl.itos.  I,o,v,.vor,  rc.f„so<l  to  lo  I,.! 
fo  0  m„r,„„g,  an.l  so  tl,«  InJians  retm-,,,.,!  ,1o«m,  tl.o 
nlct   o  thcr  <.an,,,  of  the  ,,reo<.,li„g  „igl,t,  wherj  tl    v 
wo  ,1.1  cache  ,vhat  seals  tl„.y  ha,l  obtah,e,l  in  order  to 
m  c  room  ,n  the  canoes  f„r  tl,eir  nnex-„ecte.l  passe  - 
go. s.      1  hey  a,<,'ree.l  to  i,e  hack  hy  davlhrht 

Alter  tl,cy  were  gone,  an-l  our  travcilers  had  dis,,osed 
of  then-  s,n,|de  hut  highly  a,,,,reehu,ed  meal  of  Ju 
"H'at  and  tea,  they  gathered  about  ,  he  lire  for  tl  olt 
"f  those  "dreauchag  talks,"  as  Phil  eall,.d  the  n   t 
Imd  formed  so  pleasant  a  feature  of  their  long  j.u  r     t 
M  nhouv  saying  a  word,  hut  with  a  happy  t« 'nklc  in 

^T-i;,;:!,,:;  ■::::-  "■'"^■" "« ''^'•^" "'"'  .^'■^■'"  --•<=  -- 

;' Wliero  ou  earth  did  you  get  then,  ?"  askcl  I'hil 
tound   the  pipe  in  yonder  rubbish,"  i-cplied  iho 
a,lo,-,nan  ;  "a„d  Cap'n  Kid  give  n.c  the  'baccy  just 

HOW.  "^    " 


it?" 


Nel-te  gave  you  the  tobacco?     Wl.ero  did  iie  <>-et 

"  ^v"u"'    ^  ,"■,",?■,"'"  •"'■"' '"  ^''  ''  t"  •■"'k  questions." 
oeyond  fiiidnioc  out." 


'i 


,  iti 


[!.{'■       "k      ■    \ 


fii'lil- 


f  ^ 


n.  V- 


u 


1;  f 
! 


il  m 


1  r.; 


H. 


V.i 


OftO 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


"Tliis  one  isn't,"  lauijluMl  Sctljc  •  "  tliougli  I  suppose 
it  woiild  be  if  I  hadn't  liapjtened  to  sec  one  of  the  Intl- 
ians  slip  that  bit  of  tobaceo  into  Xel-te's  hand." 

"What  could  have  been  his  object  in  .L,'ivin<,'  such  a 
thint^  as  that  to  a  child  ?" 

"Oh,  tlie  Chilkat  cliildren  use  it  as  well  as  their  eld- 
ers ;  and  I  supj»ose  lie  wanted  to  gain  Xel-te's  good- 
will, seeing  that  he  is  the  guardian  of  the  fur-seal's 
tooth.  I  shouldn't  be  surj)rised  if  lie  hoped  in  some 
way  to  get  it  from  the  child  before  we  reached  the 
village." 

"  AV^hich  suggests  an  idea,"  said  Phil,  removing  the 
trinket  in  question  from  Ncl-te's  neck  an<l  handing  it 
to  Serge.  "It  is  liard  to  say  just  who  the  tooth  does 
belong  to  now,  it  has  changed  hands  so  frc(j[uenth',  but 
it  will  be  safer  for  the  next  day  or  two  with  vou  than 
anywhere  else.  l>esides,  it  is  otdy  fair  that,  as  it  cami' 
<1irectly  from  the  CMiilkats  to  you,  or,  rather,  to  your 
father,  j-ou  should  have  the  satisfaction  of  restoring  it 
to  them." 

So  Serge  accojited  from  Phil  the  m3'sterious  bit  of 
ivory  that  he  had  ijjiven  the  latter  more  than  a  year  be- 
fore  in  distant  Xew  London,  and  hung  it  about  his  neck. 

"  Last  night,"  said  Phil,  after  this  transfer  had  taken 
place,  "Mr.  Coombs  and  I  only  needed  a  pipeful  of 
tobacco  and  a  knowledge  of  how  we  were  to  escape 
from  here  to  make  us  })erfectly  happy.  Now  we  have 
both." 

"The  blamed  i)ipe  won't  draw."  growled  Jalap 
Coombs. 

"While  I,"  continued  Phil,  "  am  bothered.  I  know 
we  must  go  with  those  fellows,  but  I  don't  trust  them, 
and  shall  feel  uneasy  so  long  as  we  are  in  their  ])o\ver." 

"  Do  you  think,"  asked  Serge,  "  that  these  things  go 
to  ])roye  that  there  isn't  any  such  thing  in  this  world 
as  pei'fect  happiness  ?" 


TflK   TRKACIIEUOUS    SHAMAN    OF    KI.L'KWAN        253 


[  suppose 
'  the  Iiul- 


h  a 


itr  sue 


tlieir  c'Ul- 
Lu's  good-   ' 
fur-sG  ill's 
1  in  soino 
iclied  tlic 

ovini;  the 
laiulinuj  it 
ooth  does 
icntlv,  but 
I  vou  than 
as  it  came 
31',  to  your 
e storing  it 

I         1-      , 
ous  bit  ot 

a  year  bc- 

bis  neck. 

)acl  taken 

)ipeful  of 

to  escape 

\v  we  bave 

•led    Jalap 

I  know 

rust  tbeni, 

L'ir  power." 

J  things  go 

this  world 


"No,"  answered  Phil ;  "only  tliat  it  is  extremely  rare. 
How  is  it  with  you,  old  man  ?  Does  the  apj)roaehing 
end  of  our  journey  promise  you  ))erfect  hai)pinessV" 

"  Xo,  indeed  !"  cried  Serge,  vehemently.  "  In  spitt; 
of  its  hardships,  I  have  enjoyed  it  too  much  to  be  glad 
that  it  is  nearly  ended.  Hut  most  of  all,  I*hil,  is  tlu^ 
fear  that  its  end  means  a  parting  from  you;  for  I  sup- 
pose you  will  go  right  on  to  San  Francisco,  while  1 
must  stay  behind." 

"I'm  afraid  so,"  admitted  Phil.  "  Hut,  at  any  rate, 
old  fellow,  this  journey  has  given  nu;  one  happiness 
that  will  last  as  long  as  I  live,  for  it  has  given  me  your 
friendshij),  and  taught  me  to  appreciate  it  at  its  true 
worth." 

"  Thank  you,  Phil,"  replied  Serge,  simply.  "  I  value 
those  words  from  you  more  than  I  should  from  any 
one  else  in  the  world.  Now  I  want  to  tell  you  what  I 
bave  to  thank  the  journey  for  besides  a  friendship.  I 
believe  it  has  shown  me  what  is  to  be  my  life-work. 
You  know  that  missionary  at  Anvik  said  bo  was  more 
in  need  of  teachers  than  anything  else.  While  I  don't 
know  very  much,  I  do  know  tn;>re  than  those  Indian 
and  Eskimo  boys,  and  I  did  enjoy  teaching  them. 
So,  if  I  can  get  my^  mother  to  consent,  I  am  going  back 
to  Anvik  as  soon  as  I  can,  and  offer  my  services  as  a 
teacher." 

"  It  is  perfectly  splendid  of  you  to  thiid<  of  it,"  cried 
Phil,  heartily;  "and  all  I  can  say  is  that  the  boys  who 
get  you  for  a  teacher  are  to  be  envied." 

So  late  did  the  lads  sit  up  that  night  talking  over 
their  plans  and  hopes  that  on  the  following  morning 
the  Indians  bad  arrived  and  were  clamorous  for  them 
to  start  before  they  were  fairly  awake.  ]>y  sunrise 
they,  together  with  the  three  dogs,  were  embarked  in 
a  great  long-beaked  and  marvellously  carved  C'hilkat 
canoe,  hewn  from  a  single  cedar  log  and  painted  black. 


2r»t 


SNOW-SHOES    AM)    SMCD  .KS 


I     •• 


}'\  M 


I '  • 


h     I 


ft;   ' 


i;     j 


ill 


Two  of  tlio  Itulians  occupied  it  witli  tlicni  ;  wliilc  tlio 
otlici's  ainl  tlu!  sU'tlo^c  went  in  .*i  sccoiul  Imt  siiiallcr 
caiid*'  (if  ihc  saiiK?  iiiiLrraccfiil  dcsiixn  as  tlio  firsl. 

i\s  uilli  sail  set  and  licforc  the  brisk  north  hi'ei'/i' 
that  ever  swccj  .  down  the  glacier,  the  canoes  sjhmI 
away  atnoni;  the  ice  Hoes  and  herc^s  of  the  inlet,  onr 
l)0vs  cast  manv  a  liiiLjerinLr  l)aek\vai"d  'dance  at  tlie 
little  cabin  that  had  ]trt)ved  such  a  haven  to  tneni,  and 
at  the*  stupendous  ice-wall  nleaniin<_f  in  fro/cn  spleinhu' 
on  their  hori/on.  lender  otln-r  conditions  tliey  would 
iijladly  have  stayed  and  explored  its  mysteries.  Now 
they  rej(ticed  at  leavini^  it. 

So  favoriiiLT  were  the  winds  that  tlu'V  left,  (Jlacier 
]jay,  passed  Icy  Sti'ait,  and  headed  northward  as  far  as 
the  mouth  of  Lynn  Canal  before;  sunset  of  that  day. 
Durini;  the  second  day  they  ran  the  whole  fifty-mile 
Icnccth  of  tlu;  caiKiI,  which  is  tlu;  u'raiulest  o(  Alaska's 
rock-walled  fiords,  entered  Chilkat  ''ilet,  ]>assed  the 
canneries  at  Pyramid  Harbor  and  CI.  ;at,  which  would 
not  be  opened  until  the  beujininnu^  of  the  salmon  season 
in  June,  entered  the  river,  and  linally  reached  Klu- 
kwau,  the  princi])al  Chilkat  villacj^e, 

llei'e,  as  the  smaller  canoe  had  ])receded  them  and 
announced  their  cominn-,  our  travellei's  Nvere  welcomed 
by  the  entire  jiopulation  of  the  villa2,H'.  These  throuirijed 
tlie  l)each  in  a  state  of  the  wihlest  excitement,  foi'  it 
was  known  to  all  that  the  long-lost  fur-seal's  tooth  was 
at  last  conu'  back  to  them.  Even  the  villa<j^e  dogs  were 
there,  a  legion  of  snarling,  flea-bitten  curs.  Ere  the 
canoe  touched  the  bt-ach.  Musky,  Luvtuk,  ami  big 
Amook  were  anu)ng  them,  and  a  battle  was  in  progress 
that  completely  drowned  tiu'  cries  of  the  spectators 
with  its  uproar.  The  fighting  was  continued,  with 
onl}'  brief  intervals,  tliroughout  the  night  ;  but  in  the 
morning  the  three  clianipions  from  tlu;  Yukon  Avcre 
masters  of  the  situation,  and  roamed  the  village  with 


MMkvMtMIM 


.1  ;.:r.!E;:-..:  -  -:ji^r:L.xm 


vliiU'  the 
t  sm;vlk'r 
rst . 

th  l)ri'i'Zo 
loes  s|)i'<l 
inlet,  i>iir 
I'o  ;it  tMt! 
[iicm,  nnd 
I  spk'titlor 
lev  would 
ics.      Now 

ft,  (Tl:icior 

il  as  far  as 

that  day, 

fiftv-inilc 

,f  Alaska's 

[»asse'd    tin' 

liicli  would 

^non  season 

cdied   Klu- 

theni  and 


widcoinoc 
i>thron!jfcM 


cut,  for  it 
tooth  ^vas 
do^s  were 
Ere 


an( 


tlie 
1  big 
|n  progress 
snectators 


lucd,  \vitn 


th 


but  in 


the 


[dvon  were 
lllasjce  with 


'■mm 


if , 
I. . 


I#  ■} 


f!!  f 
'f  ■ 


TFIE    TKKACIIKU(>i;s   SIIAMAX   OF    KLVK^VAN 


255 


busily  tails  proddlv  CL.-lod  ov(.r  th.M,-  l,.,,.]-  ,      •  , 

out  interierc-ncv     -  For  -ill  tl  V    '         .    '"""'  '"^''■ 

the  Thr..  3IulkKo<."  '  "•"'''    -.1  Phil,  M,ko 

The  guests  of  the  villa-e  ^verv  escorf^.l  t  .  ,i 
^'il-house,  to  which  ^ve^e  l^lso  t^  ^  ^''  ^"•"'- 

1 1     e  they  were  supph..!   with   venison,  salmon%nr" 
tndges,.ina  dried  berries-  and  here  ..f>  ' 

.■ccoivc,  .„..„,•  visi,.,,., ,,,',  :::l:  c::"Z'::^'7 

-a„c  to„,I,      Most  ,„..„„,„„„  ,,.  those   vt     .:  „     I 
a  ca        "T  :?  l"  "■■■"  •'.'  "."I"-""'— I'lo  Hut  Phil 

'Ircss,  ,„.„„„„.  ,,ith   a  Chilkat    WankH  o       v         i 
MK„oss  ,h,-„„n  ove.  iKM-  .honhl,.,-.,  lik.  a  .1,  n      ' 
astoMclat  the  throat  ,vith  a  st.,„t  safe  v-     ;  '  Th 
1  .■,„,.c.s.s  ,  ovotcl  hofsolf  to  8..,-,..,  u-h„,n  sho'„v i.lo,  t   • 
<'""s.,l,.,v,     the  n.ost   in.portant  ihts.,,,   i„  the  v 

and  to  lutle  Nol-te,  who  took  to  her  at  one  '  i  J 

she  pronounced  the  fur-seal's  t<,oth  to  l,e  ,i, 
.1..U  had  belo,„o.l  to  her  l,usba,;d   t ,    SI  a„,a  r  sTk 
-    ead  ,  onbtf ally.     Then  it  was  han.Ied  fr       ,    ?  ' 
:'""ther  of  a  number  of  le.sser  Shan.ans  and  ebief    f  , 
n.s,,eet,o„.     .Sud.lenly  one  of  these  ,Iro,,,H  1       t     ,1   . 

I'hil   was  f„rh,us  at   the   ini lenee  of  this  triel- 

;.ve"  herge  was  indignant;  while  .Tala,,  Coo    b       i  , 
-_»,ej_,,,stw.,atn,,shtbee.^^^^^^^^^ 

The  Sha.nan  insisted  that  the  tooth  was  not  1,,.,    |„„ 
l.a.l  .l..ai,,,eared  of  it.s  own  aeeord.     If  it  were  not  the 


250 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SI.KDCiKS 


Itei 


same  fnr-sears  tooth  that  beluiiufc)!  to  tlu'ir  tribe  in 
former  years,  it  would  not  he  seen  a^ain.  If  it  were, 
it  wouhl  aj»jtear  within  a  few  (hiys  attaehed  to  a  liid- 
oonsly  carved  representative  of  Untie,  the  thunderd)ii'd 
tliat  stood  in  one  of  KhjhdvUtz's  houses,  now  used  as  a 
place  for  incantation. 

"  We  don't  care  anvthinoj  about  all  that !"  exclaimed 
V\\\\,  when  this  was  translated  to  him.  "  Tell  him  he 
can  do  as  he  ])leases  with  the  tooth,  so  lonp^  as  he  gives 
us  the  canoe  we  have  })aro;ained  for." 

To  this  the  Shaman  rejjjied  that  the}-  should  surely 
have  a  canoe  as  soon  as  the  tooth  ])rove(l  its  geiniine- 
iiess  ])y  rea|t|»('ai'inij:;.  In  the  meantime,  if  they  wei'e 
in  such  a  hurrv  to  Liet  awav  that  they  did  not  care  to 
wait,  he  had  a  verv  line  canoe  that  he  would  let  them 
have  at  once  in  exchange  for  their  guns  and  their 
dogs. 

"You  may  tell  him  that  we  will  wait,"  rejilied  Phil, 
grindy,  'Muit  you  need  not  tell  him  what  is  equally 
true — that  we  shall  only  wait  until  we  find  a  chance  to 
help  ourselves  to  the  best  canoe  in  the  village  and  take 
French  leave." 

So  tlu'y  waited,  though  very  impatiently,  in  Ivlu- 
kwan  for  nearly  a  week,  during  whii-h  time  IMiil  had 
ample  opportuidties  for  studying  ("hilkat  ai'chitecturo 
aiul  totem  }K)les,  The  houses  of  tlu'  village  were  all 
liuilt  'f  heavy  hewn  ]>laidvs  set  on  en<l.  They  had 
bark  or  plank  roofs,  with  a  scpiai'e  opening  in  each  for 
the  egress  of  smoke,  ^[any  of  them  had  glass  windows 
and  ordinary  doors ;  but  in  others  the  doors  were  placed 
so  high  from  the  ground  as  to  be  reached  by  ladders 
on  both  outside  and  inside.  The  great  totem  poles  that 
stood  before  every  house  were  ten,  twenty,  or  thirty 
feet  tall,  and  covered  with  heraldic  carvings  from  bot- 
tom to  top. 

During  this  time  of  waiting  the  Shaman  made  re- 


lii:^ 


I^?WW?!R!P?SPP!!^ 


AiU^MiiMrf^i^Biw^UUl 


I'ir  trilx'  in 
If  it  were, 
jd  to  .'I  liid- 
liunder-bird 
W  used  as  a 

"  exclaimed 

fell  him  lie 

as  he  gives 

loidd  surely 

its  fx<-'"iiiii*'- 
1"  tliev  wvVL' 
not  care  to 
lid  let  them 
iS  and   their 

•eplied  I*hil, 

t  is  equally 

a  eiiance  to 

ge  and  take 

Iv,  in  Klu- 
iie  Phil  had 
arehileeturc 
|i<4'e  wei'e  all 

^  They  had 

in  each  for 

liss  windows 

[were  placed 

by  ladders 

In  poles  that 

-,  or  thirty 

ts  from  bot- 

m  made  rc- 


A     CIIII.KA  I     "  n;lN(  h>S 


1-y 


Hi    ' 


Bii  i 


m 


THE    TKKACIIEUOUS    811 AMW    OF    KLIKWAX 


o  I 


peated  ofTors  to  sell  the  stran,<xcM-s  a  canoo,  all  of  which 
were  indignantly  declined.  That  thev  did  not  anpro- 
pnate  one  to  their  ov.n  nse  was  for^he  verv  s  n  „le 
reason  that  all  except  a  few  very  small  or  leakv'  canoes 
mysteriously  d.sai,peared  from  the  village  that  first 
night. 

At  length  the  tricky  n.edicine-man  was  forced  to 
yield  to  the  threats  of  the  Princess,  who  had  taken  the 
part  of  our  travellers  from  the  iirst,  and  to  popular 
clamor.  He  therefore  announced  one  evenincr  that  he 
had  been  informed  during  a  vision  that  thefur-seaPs 
tooth  ^yould  reappear  among  them  on  the  morrow 

On  the  following  morning  Phil  and  his  companions 
were  aroused  l)y  a  tremendous  shouting  and  firin.r  of 
puis  all  of  which  proclaimed  that  the  hnimv  event 
iiad  taken  place.  ^  ^  ■ 

"  Xow,"  cried  Phil,  "  perhaps  we  will  get  our  canoe  » 
J>ut  there  were  no  caiir,es  to  he  seen  on  the  l,each 
and  the  Shaman  coolly  informed  them  that,  thomd.  the' 
precious  tooth  had  iiHh..ed  come  back  to  dwell  win.  the 
(-h.kats,  they  would  still  be  obliged  to  wait  until  some 
of  the  canoes  returned  from  the  hunting  ex,)editions 
on  which  they  had  all  been  taken  ^ 

At  this  Pliil  fell  into  such  a  rage  that,  regardless  <>f 
consequences,  he  was  on  the  point  of  giving  the  old 
fiaud  a  most  beautiful  thrashing,  when  his  uplifted 
arm  was  starthngly  arrested  by  the  deep  ],oom  of  a 
iieavy  gun  that  seemed  to  come  from  the  mouth  of  tb-^ 
river. 


'-  i' 


iP 


li)  ? 


CHAPTER    XXXIX 


mM\ 


INVADING    A    rAPTAIx's    CAlilN 


)     :» 


:.f 


i'  l 

I! 


1    1 

1,   ' 

1 

'1 

;i  ii' 

!  X': 

I  •«..■ 

1 
1 

Ax  cartli quake  could  liavdly  liavo  caused  c^reater 
constcniation  in  tlie  village  of  Klukwan  than  did  (lie 
boom  of  tliat  lieavy  ijuii  as  it  came  eclioiiior  up  the 
])alisaded  valley  of  the  Chilkat.  Not  many  years  be- 
fore tlie  Indians  of  that  section  had  defied  the  ])o\ver 
of  tlie  United  States,  and  killed  several  American  citi- 
zens. A  guidjoat,  Imrried  to  the  scene  of  trouble, 
shelled  and  destroyed  one  of  their  villages  in  retalia- 
tion. From  that  time  on,  no  sound  .as  so  terrible  to 
them  as  the  roar  of  a  big  gun. 

Wliile  Phil  and  liis  companions  Avere  chafing  at  the 
delay  im])Osed  upon  them  by  the  greed  of  tlie  Chilkat 
Shaman,  a  government  vessel  arrived  in  the  neighl)or- 
ing  inlet  of  Chilkoot,  bearing  a  party  of  scicntilic  men, 
Avho  Avere  to  cross  the  mountains  at  that  point  for  an 
exploration  of  the  upjier  Yukon,  and  the  locating  of 
the  boundary-linii  between  Alaska  and  Canada. 

The  Princess,  learning  of  its  ])resence,  and  despairing 
of  assisting  her  white  friends  in  anv  other  wav,  secr(4- 
ly  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  captain  of  the  shij) 
with  the  information  that  some  Americans  were  being 
detained  in  Klukwan  against  their  will.  Upon  re- 
ceipt of  this  news  the  captain  ))romptly  steamed 
around  into  Chilkat  Inlet,  and  as  near  to  its  head  as 
the  draught  of  his  vessel  would  allow.  iVs  he  dropped 
anchor,  thei-e  came  such  a  sound  of  tiring  from  up  tlio 
river  that  lie  imagined  a  light  to  be  in  jtrogress,  and 


HI 


I      I 


>!o«li»*-^-H-' 


INVADINir    A    CAPTAIN  S    CABIN 


259 


cjroater 
aid  i\^i'' 
r  u])  tlie 
,^cars  bo- 
le ])()wcr 
lean  citi- 
troubk', 
u  vclalia- 
Livriblc  to 

no;  at  the 
?'ciiilkat 
iK'igbbor- 
tilic  men, 
lit  for  an 
ating  of 
n. 

cspair'mi!; 
y,  secivt- 
tlie  ship 
'I'c  being 
pon    re- 
steamed 
head  as 
dropped 
[111  np  the 
ress,  and 


fired  one  of  liis  own  big  guns  to  give  warning  of  his 
presence. 

Tlio  ellect  of  this  dread  message  was  instantaneous. 
Pliil  Ryder  dropped  liis  uplifted  arm.  Tiie  C'liiikat 
Shaman  scuttled  away,  issued  an  order,  and  within  five 
minutes  a  new  and  j»erfeetly  equipped  canoe  was  mar- 
vellously produced  from  somewhere  and  tendered  to 
Serge  J>elcofsky.  Five  minutes  later  lie  and  his  com- 
panions had  taken  a  gratcfiU  leave  of  the  Princess,  and 
were  cnibarkcMl  with  all  their  efiects,  including  the  three 
dogs. 

Phil  stationed  himself  in  the  bow, Serge  tended  sheet, 
and  Jalap  Coombs  steered.  As  before  the  prevailing 
northerly  wind  their  long-beaked  canoe  shot  out  from 
the  river  into  the  wider  waters  of  the  inlet,  and  they 
saw,  at  anchor,  less  than  a  mile  away,  a  handsome 
cutter  fiying  the  I'nited  States  revenue  fiag,  the  three 
friends  uttered  a  simultaneous  cry  of: 

"TheiV/(>(v</" 

"Hurrah!"  yelled  Phil. 

"  Hurrah  I"  echoed  Serge. 

"Bless  her  pretty  ])icter  !"  roared  Jalap  Coombs, 
standing  U])  and  waving  the  old  tarpaulin  hat  that, 
though  often  eclipsed  by  a  fur  hood,  had  been  faithful- 
ly cherished  during  the  entire  journey. 

Even  ]\[usky,  Luvtuk,  and  big  Amook  caught  the  pre- 
vailing excitement,  and  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in 
loud  and  joyous  barkings. 

At  that  moment  one  of  the  cutter's  boats,  in  com- 
mand of  a  strange  lieutenant,  v/ith  a  howitzer  mounted 
in  its  bows,  and  manned  bv  a  dozen  heavilv  armed 
sailors,  hailed  the  canoe  and  shot  alongside. 

"What's  the  trouble  up  the  river?"  demanded  the 
officer. 

"There  isn't  anv,"  answered  T*hil. 

"  What  was  all  the  firing  about?" 


JTT 


200 


SNOW-SHOES    LrU    SLKDGKS 


III    r 


li  I 


Ill  i' 


"  Celc'bratincf  some  sort  of  native  Fonrtli  of  July. 
Is  Captain  JMatlhews  still  in  coniuiaiKl  of  the  J^/toc((/'^ 

"  Yes.     Docs  ho  know  you  ?" 

"I  rather  guess  lie  does,  and,  with  your  permission, 
we'll  report  to  him  in  person." 

AVith  this  the  canoe  shot  ahciid,  IcaviuLC  the  lieuten- 
ant greatly  puzzled  as  to  whether  he  should  follow  it 
or  continue  np  the  river,  though  he  linally  concluded 
to  adopt  the  former  course. 

"  Pull  up  the  hoods  of  your  parkas,"  said  Ihil  to  liis 
companions,  "  and  we'll  give  the  captain  a  sur[)rise- 
l)arty." 

A  minute  later  one  of  the  PhoctCH  (piartermasters 
re[)orted  to  the  captain  that  a  canoe-load  of  natives 
was  almost  alongside. 

"Very  well;  let  them  come  aboard,  and  I'll  hear 
what  they  have  to  say." 

In  vain  did  the  (juartermaster  strive  to  direct  the 
canoe  to  the  port  gangway.  The  natives  did  not  seem 
to  understand,  and  insisted  on  rounding  up  under  the 
starboard  quarter,  reserved  for  otlicers  and  distin- 
guished guests.  One  of  them  sprang  out  the  moment 
its  bow  touched  the  side  steps,  clambered  al)oard, 
pushed  aside  the  Avrathful  quartermaster,  and  started 
for  the  captain's  door  with  the  sailor  in  hot  pursuit. 

"Hold  on,  vou  blooming  voung  savage  I  Ye  can't 
go  in  there,"  he  shouted,  but  to  heedless  "ars. 

As  Phil  gained  the  door  it  was  opened  by  the  com- 
mander himself,  who  was  about  to  come  out  for  a  look 
at  the  natives. 

"  How  are  you,  Captain  ^Matthews  ?"  shouted  the  fur- 
clad  intruder  into  the  sacred  privacy  of  the  cabin,  at 
the  same  time  raising  a  hand  in  salute.  "  It  is  awfull)' 
crood  of  vou,  sir,  to  come   for  us.     I  onlv  hone    vou 


didn't  bother  to  wait  very  long  at  the  Pril^ylolT.- 


tt 


"  Eh  ?    What  ?    Who  are  you,  sir  ?    What  (b^es  this 


INVADING    A    ('ATTAIN  S    ("AIJIN 


201 


of  July. 

phocji'r 

rmissioii, 

3  liouton- 
follow  it 
oucluclcd 

hil  to  his 
snri»rise- 

ermtisters 
f   natives 

ril  hear 

lircct  the 

not  setMii 

under  the 

id    distin- 

3  moment 

ahoard, 

lid  started 

ursuit. 

Ye  can't 

the  eom- 
Ifor  a  look 

m1  the  fur- 
eahin,  at 

Is  awfully 

(hope    you 

lolTs." 
does  this 


mcNinV  Phil  Itvdcr!  You  vouncf  villain  !  You  scamp! 
IJIess  my  soul,  hut  this  is  the  most  wonderfid  tliiiiL;  I 
evi'r  heard  of  I"  cried  the  astonished  commander,  sta<^- 
gering  hack  into  the  cahin,  and  [>ulling  Phil  after  ium. 
"  May,  daughter,  look  here  I" 

At  that  moment  there  canu;  :i  yelping  rush,  and  with 
a  chorus  of  excited  harkings  .Musky,  Luvtuk,  and 
big  Amook  dashed  pell-mell  into  the  cahin.  After 
them  came  Serge,  Jala[)  Coombs,  and  the  horrified 
quartermaster,  all  striving  in  vain  to  capture  and  re- 
strain the  riotous  dogs.  \a  if  any  one  could  prevent 
them  from  following  and  sh.'iring  the  joy  of  tlie  young 
master  who  had  fed  them  inght  after  night  for  months 
by  lonely  camp-fires  of  the  Yukon  X'alley  ! 

So  they  fiung  themselves  into  the  cabin,  and  tore 
round  and  round,  amid  such  a  babel  of  shouts,  laughter, 
barkings,  and  crash  of  overturned  furniture  as  was 
never  before  heard  in  that  orderly  apartment. 

Finally  the  terrible  dogs  were  captured,  one  by  one, 
and  led  away.  May  ^Matthews  emerged  from  a  safe 
retreat,  where,  convulsed  with  laughter,  she  ]ia<l  wit- 
nessed the  whole  uproarious  proceeding.  Her  fatlier, 
still  ejaculating  "liless  my  soul  !"  at  intervals,  gradu- 
ally recovered  sufticient  ccjmposure  to  recognize  and 
welcome  Serge  and  "  I))ecac"  Coombs,  as  he  persisted 
in  calling  ])Oor  Jalap.  The  upset  chairs  were  i)laced  to 
rights,  and  all  hands  began  to  ask  (piestions  with  such 
ra])idity  that  no  one  had  time  to  ])ause  for  answers. 

From  the  confusion  Cai)tain  Matthews  finally  evolved 
an  nnderstanding  that  the  bovs  were  still  desirous  of 
reaching  Sitka,  whereu|)on  he  remarked  : 

"Sitka!  Sitka!  It  never  occurred  to  me  that  you 
liad  any  desire  to  visit  Sitka.  I  thouL^ht  vour  solo 
ambition  was  to  attain  the  North  Pole,  If  you  had 
only  mentioned  Sitka  last  summer  I  might  have  ar- 
ranofed  the  trip  for  vou  :  but  now  I  feai'— " 


li 


nil 


h .' 


1 


r 


2C2 


SNOW-SHOES   AND   SLEDGES 


At  tliis  moment  there  came  a  knock  at  the  <loor, 
and  wlicn  it  was  opened  the  (luurterniaster  hei^an  to 
say,  "  IOxcu.se  me,  sir,  but  lierc's  aiiotlu-r — "  JJefore 
lie  could  linish  his  .sentence  a  .small  furry  object 
jerked  away  from  him  with  such  force  that  it  took 
a  beader  into  tlie  room,  and  landed  at  the  feet  of  the 
commander  on  all  fours,  like  a  little  bear. 

"IJles.s  my  soul!  What's  this?"  cried  Captain 
[Matthews,  .sprini^in*^  to  one  side  in  dismay. 

"  It's  a  baby !"  screamed  ]Miss  !May,  dailing  for- 
ward and  snatchini;  up  the  child,  "j\darlin<jj  little 
Indian  in  furs.     Where  did  it  come  from?" 

"  Gre;it  Scott !"  exclaimed  Thil,  remorsefully.  "  To 
think  that  we  should  have  foi'f^otten  Nel-te  !" 

"Are  there  anv  more  ve?  to  come  V"  demanded  the 
captain. 

"No,  sir;  the  whole  ship's  company  is  ])resent  ainf 
accounted  for,"  replied  Jalaj)  Cooinhs.  "  I>ut  with 
your  leave,  sir,  I'll  just  step  out  and  take  a  look  at  our 
boat,  for  she's  a  ticklish  craft  to  navigate,  and  might 
come  to  grief  in  strange  hands." 

So  saying,  the  honest  fellow,  glad  of  ;iii  excuse  to 
escape  from  the  cabin,  Avhere  he  felt  awkwai'd  and 
out  of  ])lace,  as  well  as  uncomfortably  Avarin  in  his  fur 
garments,  ])ulled  at  the  fringe  of  long  wolf's  hairs  sur- 
rounding his  face,  and  shufl^le<l  away.  A  few  nunutes 
later  saw  him  in  the  forecastle,  Mhere,  divested  of  liis 
nnsailor-like  ])arka,  ])ulVi!ig  with  iniinite  zest  at  one 
of  the  blackest  of  ])i])es  tilled  with  the  blackest  of 
tobacco,  and  the  centre  of  an  admiring  group  of  sea- 
men, he  was  spinning  incredible  yarns  of  his  recent 
and  wonderful  experiences  with  snow -.shoes  and 
sledges. 

In  the  meantime  May  ^Matthews  was  (h-liglitedl}' 
winning  Nel-te's  baby  aifections,  while  Phil  ami  Serge 
were  still  plying  the  cajjtain  with  (piestions. 


!     1.        :.| 


.  n.;n*Mit.>*.'r.rt..-i,i-'  I  liliiiiiniiHitiyriiiiife 


'^"''*."!™v 


INVADINT'r    A    CAPTAIN  S    CADIX 


2G3 


e  door, 
><raii  to 
Ik'foro 
object 
it  took 
t  of  the 

C'npta'm 

tig    for- 
ig  little 


r. 


a  T 


ro 


I  (led  tlie 

;eiit  (nnl 
lilt  with 
ik  at  our 
d  might 

xeiise  to 
ard  and 
11  his  fur 
lairs  sur- 
iniiiutes 
d  of  his 
at  oiu; 
ckest  of 
)  of  sea- 
s  recent 
Iocs    and 

ightedly 
id  Serge 


"  Wei'e  von  savinif,  sir,  lliat  vou  feared  vou  couldirt 
take  us  to  Sitka?"  iii(|uired  Serge,  anxiously. 

"Not  at  all,  my  lad,"  re))lied  the  eajitain.  "I  was 
about  to  remark  that  1  feared  you  would  not  care  to 
go  there  now,  seeing  that  there  is  hardly  any  one  in 
Sitka  Avhom  you  want  to  see,  unless  it  is  your  mother 
and  sisters  and  Phil  Ryder's  father  and  aunt  I'ulli." 

"What!"  cried  Phil,  "  my  Aunt  liutii!  Are  you 
certain,  sir?'' 

"Certain  T  am,"  replied  Captain  Mattiieus, '*  that  if 
both  the  individuals  I  liave  just  mentioned  aren't  al- 
ready in  Sitka,  they  -will  be  there  very  shortly,  for  I 
left  them  in  San  Francisco  prej)aring  to  start  at  onci'. 
Moreover,  I  have  orders  to  carry  your  father  to  St. 
jNfichaels,  where  he  expec'ts  to  iind  3'ou.  So  now  you 
see  in  what  a  complication  your  turning  up  in  this  out- 
landish fashion  involves  me." 

"But  how  did  my  aunt  Ruth  ever  happen  to  ccniie 
out  here  ?''  impiired  Phil. 

"Came  out  to  nurse  your  father  while  his  leg  was 
mending,  and  incidentally  to  find  out  what  had  become 
of  an  undutifid  nephew  whom  she  seems  to  fancy  lias 
an  aptitude  for  getting  into  scrapes,"  laughed  the  cap- 
tain. 

"  Has  my  father  recovered  from  his  accident  ?" 

"So  entirelv  that  he  fancies  his  leir  is  sounder  and 
better  than  ever  it  was." 

"And  are  you  bound  for  Sitka  now,  sir?" 

"  To  bo  sure  I  am,  and  should  have  been  half-way 
there  by  this  time  if  I  hadn't  been  delayed  by  a  report 
of  some  sort  of  a  row  between  the  Chilkats  and  a  ])arty 
of  whites.  Now,  having  settled  that  diillculty  by  cap- 
turing the  entire  force  of  aggressors,  I  ])ro})ose  to  carry 
them  to  Sitka  as  legitimate  prisoners,  and  there  turn 
them  over  to  the  authorities.  So,  gentlemen,  you  will 
please  consider  yourselves  as  jirisuiiers  of  war,  and  un- 


'■y 


1  ■' 


204 


SNOW-SIIOKS    AND    SLEDOKS 


flcr  orders  not  to  Icavo  tliis  sliij)  until  slio  .arrives  at 
Silk:i." 

"With  pleasure,  .sir,"  lau.Lclicd  Phil.  "Only  don't 
you  think  you'd  better  jdaec;  us  under  ^niard  y" 

"I  expect  it  will  be  best,"  replied  the  captain,  Lrrave- 
ly,  "seeini^  that  you  arc  charf^ed  with  seal- poach  in  u^, 
piracy,  defying  government  oflicers,  and  escaping  from 
arrest,  as  M'ell  as  the  present  offence  of  making  war  on 
native  Americans." 


Ul 


'.  I 


i  \  > 


I'l  i , 
tu  i . 


irnvcs  at 


Illy  don't 

in,  ujravo- 
)oacirniLr, 
)iiit;  IVom 
g  war  on 


CHAPTER  XL 
IX     SITKA    Tr»\vx 

The  lon-l,c.ako.]   and  wondorfnllv  carvod   Chilkat 
^Jc.n.s..kenontIu,/%.V.deek,thoancl.^^ 

.^latTT  •  ."^^■^"'^"'•--  Jo-'-y,  pursue, 

annd   st.  1,  stran^<^o   vuMss.tu.l.s,  was   Ix^nui.     As   tlu- 

^^ps,u.lswd;tlypastllK.oveHK.,.in;iee-fiddso^^ 
Uuidson  Glacier,  out,  of  ('l.ilkat  Inlet  into  the  bro.d 
|no:..ta.n-wall_od  waters  of  Lynn  Canal,  and  dow  t' 

.^tened  w.tli  absorbed  interest  to  PJ.il's  account  <.f  .h. 
U'.narkable  adventures  tbat  bo  and  Serine  ],a.l  encoun- 

NV  ciJ,    said  lie,  wben  tlio  recital  was  iinisbed    -  I've 
cone  a  .j,ood    bit  of  knocking  about  in  .p.eer'placc.s 
during  tinny  years  of  going  to  sea,  and  bad  son  e  <-.- 
ponences,  but  my  life  lias  l,een  tame  and  nionot<,nous 
ccmipared  witb  tbe  one  you  bave  led  for  the  past  year 
n  by,  lad,  ,f  an  account  of  what  you  bave  gone  tbrm.-b 
HI  attenipting  to  take   a   ,,uiet  little   trip  from   Xe^v 
London  to  hitka  was  written  out  and  printed  in  a  book 
people  wouldn't   believe   it  was  true.     Tbev'd   shake 
their  heads  and  say  it  was  all   made  up,  M-bieh   onlv 
pes  to  prove,  what  I  never  believed  before,  that  trut'b 
IS  sometimes  stranger  than  fiction,  after  all  " 

"^es,"  replied  Phil;  ".,,„!  the  strangest  part  of  if 
all  IS  the  way  that   fui-seaPs   tooth   has  foiloued    us 


1 1 J  IP 


» 


l^     2 


;fel 


2GG 


SXOW-RIIOKS    AXO    sr.F.TKJF.S 


find  exerted  its  iiiiluciicc  in  oui'  Itclialt"  IVom  tlie  bec^iii- 
iiiiii;  to  the  very  end.  Why,  sir,  if  it  liadn't  been  for 
that-  tooth  you  woiihln't  ]\:i\v  coinc  to  C'hilkat,  and  y\v 
sliouldiTt  he  in  the  liappv  position  Ave  are  at  this  vci'v 
moment." 

'' ^\)U  don't  mean  to  say,"  cried  ('a])tain  IMattliews, 
"  tliat  it  turned  up  an'ain  after  your  i'ather  h)st  it?" 

"Oil  yes,  sir,  and  it's  been  with  ns,  oil'  and  on,  all 
the  lime."' 

" 'I'licn  at  last  I  can  liave  the  ])h'asnre  of  showini^ 
it  to  mv  dauiditer.  AVould  vou  mind  lettin<j'  me  have 
it  i"or  a  fi'W  miimtes  ?" 

"Unfortunately,  sir—" 

"Xow  don't  tell  me  that  you  have  i:one  and  lost  it 
aLcain  I" 

"  Xot  exactly  h»st  it,"  replied  J'hil.  ''At  the  same 
time,  I  don't  know  ])recisely  where  it  is  nor  what  has 
become  of  it,  only  it  is  somewhere  back  in  Klukwan, 
where  it  orit^'inally  came  from,  and  I  have  every  rea- 
son to  believe  that  it  is  in  possession  of  the  principal 
C'hilkat  Shaman." 

"I  declare,  that  is  too  bad  I"  exclainuMl  the  ca])tain. 
''If  I  had  known  thai  sooiu-r  1  believe  I  should  have 
kept  I'iu'lit  on  and  shelled  the  villau^e  until  they  o-ave 
me  the  tooth,  so  strong*  is  my  desire  to  u^et  hold  of  it." 

'*  And  so  secured  to  yourself  the  ill-luck  of  him  who 
steals  it,"  lauuhed  Phil. 

'i'liat  afternoon  the  I^liocn  tui-ned  sharply  to  the 
riu^lil,  and  beii-an  to  thread  the  swift-i'ushin<j;  and  rock- 
strewn  wate's  of  Peril  Strait,  the  narrow  channel  that 
washes  the  northern  end  of  IJaranotV  T>lan(l,  on  which 
Sitka  is  situited.  Now  Serufc  stood  on  the  bridge 
beside  Ins  fri(>nd,  so  nervous  with  excitement  that  he 
could  liardly  speak.  l^\-ery  roariuLT  tide  rij)  and  s  ''irl- 
ini;  e(bly  of  those  watei's,  <'very  i-ocd-c  with  its  stre;nners 
of  brown  kelp,  every  beach  and  wooded  point,  were  like 


lio  l)Of;iu- 

IxH'ii  for 

t,  luid  W(i 

tills  very 

Tiittliows, 
St  It?" 
11(1  on,  ;ill 

showiiii:? 
••  nu'  liave 


.11(1  lost  it 

tlio  same 
■  what  lias 
Klukwaii, 
t'vcry  rca- 
r  |)rinci|»al 

e  cajitaiii. 
oiild  have 
tln'V  ixavo 
oia't.f  it." 
liiii  who 

V   to   tho 

iiul  rock- 
iiinel  that 

on  which 
ic  bridLtc 
it  that  he 
ami  s  "irl- 
slrciinitTs 

were  like 


-1 


■/. 


v. 

r. 


i/,""ffi'*Mi«<t*a»i«M..i*tut*,i«.  «...it..>.iHM«*>i-*i«^-4»*W<»««»»i»«»'"l'" 


3  i> 


m 


I ' 

( i  i 


fi  i 


!} 


|.. 


IN   SITKA    T(n\'X 


2G7 


fatmliar  faces  to  the  youiic,^  lliisso-Ainorioa!),  for  Just 
lu'votid  tlicm  Jay  liis  liomc,  that  dear  Jioine  I'roiii  M-fiich 
he  liad  been  inoix'  than  three  years  absent. 

Suddenly  lie  elutclied  Pldl's  arm  and  pointed  to  a 
lofty,  sno\v-ero\vne<l  peak  looming,'  liiudi  above  the 
forest  and  bathed  in  rosy  sunlJL^djt.  "There's  .Afount 
Edireemnbe  !"  he  eried  ;  and  a  few  minutes  afterwards, 
"There's  Yerstovoi!"  Phil  felt  the  nervous  linLr(,,-s 
tremble  as  they  n^ripped  his  arm;  and  when,  a  ifttlo 
later,  tlie  cntter  swept  from  a  narrow  passarro  into  an 
island-studded  l)ay,  he  eouhl  hardly  hear  the  hoarse 
whisper  of:  "There,  Phil  !  there's  Sitka!  Dear,  beau- 
tiful Sitka!" 

And  Phil  was  nearly  as  (>xeited  as  Serine  to  think 
that,  after  twelve  months  of  ceaseless  Avanderincrs,  the 
goal  for  which  he  had  set  forth  was  at  last  reached. 

^  Serene  ])ointed  out  in  rapid  succession  the  picturescpio 
Greek  church,  the  quaint   little  house  known  as  th(> 
Governor's   3Iansion,  the  marine    ))arracks,  the  soli(i 
log  structure  of  the  old  Russian  trading  company,  the 
long,  straggling  Indian    village,  and    tlie   line  "Gov- 
ernor's Walk  "  leading  to  beautiful  Indian  River.     Put 
lie  looked  in  vain  for  the  most,  conspicuous  landmark 
of  all  ;  for  old  Paranoic   Castle,  crowning   Katlean's 
Rock,  had  been  destroyed  by  fire  since  he  left  h.^nie. 
^  The  PAoca  had  hardly  dropped  anchor  before  another 
M'n>  appeared  entering  the  bay  from  the  same  direc- 
ti"}\     "The   mail -steamer    from   Puget    Sound,"  an- 
'>ounced  Captain  ^Matthews. 

"''.is  boat  brought  but  few  ])assengers,  for  tlu>  season 
^•as  yet  too  early  for  tourists  ;  but  on  her  ui)per  deck 
stood  a  gentleman  and  a  lady,  the  former  of  whom 
was  |)ointing  out  objects  of  interest  almost  as  eagerly 
as  Serge  had  done  a  short  time  before. 

"It  IS  lovely,"  said  his  companion,  enthusiastically, 
"but  it  seems  perfectly  incredible  that  I  should  act- 


'■•:i  uiil(ltiHWlrt»i.: *i!«i,ii|.>.i.|.W|(|0iiij,iii,as4Mt»i^.^i(|,irt|«Mrt«4Hi(i . 


p '""" 


2(>8 


SN()\V-SII()i:s    AM)    SI.KIUiKS 


I 


If  f- 


iially  ])o  lioro,  mid  that  lliis  is  llic  place  for  wliicli  our 
IMiil  set  out  willi  siutli  liii^h  liopos  a  year  ago.  })t>  yon 
vcali/.c,  Jolm,  that  it  is  just  one  year  ago  to-day  since 
lie  left  \e\v  JiOudon  V  Oil,  if  we  only  knew  wbei'e  tlie 
dear  boy  was  at  this  ininut(!  !  And  to  think  that  I 
shoidd  liave  got  here;  before  him  !" 

''Now  he  will  i)robably  never  get  here,"  replied  ]\Ii-. 
Tlyder  ;  "  for,  on  account  of  that  California  olTer,  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  return  directly  to  San  Fi'ancisco 
from  St.  Mu'haels  without  even  a  chance  of  going  u\) 
tlie  Yukon,  which  1  know  will  be  a  great  disa))i)oint- 
ment  to  J^hil.  IJut  look  there,  lliith.  Vou  have  been 
Avantiii'  •  ><■  s-^e  a  cano(.'-load  of  Indians,  and  here  comes 
as  typic;  ne  as  I  ever  saw.     A  jterfect  specimen  of 

«in  Alaskai.  dug-out,  natives  in  full  winter  costume, 
Eskimo  dogs,  and  a  sledge,  I  declare  !  'i'hey  must 
liavc!  just  come  back  from  a  hunting  expedition  to  the 
mainland.  See  tlie  snow-shoes  slung  o!i  tluur  backs, 
aud  how  gracefully  they  haiidh^  their  })addles  !  Even 
Phil  might  take  a  lesson  from  them  in  that." 

"And,  oh  1"  cried  Miss  Kuth,  "there  is  a  tiuy  bit 
of  a  child,  all  in  furs,  just  like  its  father.  See  V  Nes- 
tled among  the  dogs,  with  a  pair  of  wee  snow-shoes  on 
bis  back  too.  Isn't  he  a  darling?  How  I  should  love 
to  liug  liini  !  Oh,  John,  we  must  find  them  when  wo. 
get  ashore;  for  that  child  is  the  \ery  (tutest  thiug  I 
have  seen  in  all  Alaska." 

"All  right,"  replied  j\Ir.  Ryder,  smiling  good-nat- 
uredly at  his  sister's  enthusiasm.  "  We  will  watch 
and  see  where  they  make  a  landing." 

l>y  this  time  the  steamer  was  made  fast,  and  the 
]iassengers  were  already  going  ashore.  When  3Ii-. 
Ilyder  and  his  sister  gained  the  wharf  they  were  sur- 
])rised  to  see  that  the  very  canoe  in  whi'eh   they  were 

crested   had  come  to    the    landiuu'- stan'e,  whei'c   i 


lilt 


ts 


occupants  were  already  disembarking. 


III! 


vliicli  our 
.  ])(>  you 
(lay  since 
wluM'c  tlic 
nk  that  I 


I 


■j)li(Ml  ]\Ir, 
ia  oirc'i 
FraiK-'isco 

isa])])()iiit- 


lave 


)een 


ore  comes 


11  ol" 


leciiiic 


costume, 


must 


hey 

ion  to  the 


leir 


hack 


!     K 


veil 


5? 


a  imv 


ee 


hit 

Ncs- 


v-sl;o('S  on 


1()U 


hU 


ovo 


wlieii  wo, 
thiiif^  I 

!]^oo(l-nat- 
ill   watch 


VI 


am 
leu 


1  til 
Ml 


were  sur- 

tliev  were 

wlicre  its 


•^'HiHliiwi<tftfe.w<»»ferifc'W^^^^^w?^PW»'*^^ 


■hi*»**  Wtttn^trrtt*? 


t  , 


'   » 


ii  > 


;i'''-! 


■*|i  y- 


,1  i 


lit  '' 

it 

II 


IN   SITKA    TOWN 


2G9 


"Whiit  fair  coniplcxions  they  liave  for  Imliaiis," 
said  ."Miss  Until,  stopjiing  to  watch  tlic  natives.  As 
the  foremost  of  them  ran  up  the  steps,  she  moved 
aside  to  let  him  pass.  The  next  moment  she  uttered  a 
shriek  of  horror,  for  lie  had  suddenly  tlirown  liis  arms 
about  her  neck  and  kissed  her. 

"Aunt^Ruth,  you're  a  l^rick!  a  perfect  brick  !"  ho 
cried.  "To  thiidc  of  you  coming  away  out  Iicre  to  sec 
me!"  Then  turning  to  Mr.  Ryder,  and  embracing 
that  bewildered  gentleman  in  his  furry  arms,  the  ex- 
cited ])oy  exclaimed  :  "And  j)op.  You  dear  old  pop! 
If  you  only  knew  how  distressed  I  liave  been  about 
you  !  If  you  hadn't  turned  up  just  as  you  have,I  sliould 
have  dropped  everything  and  gone  in  search  of  you." 

''Oh,  Phil,  how  could  you?"  gasped  Aunt  ^Ruth. 
"\  ou  frightened  me  almost  to  death,  and  have  crushed 
me  all  out  of  shaj.e.     You  are  a  regidar  polar-bear  in 

all  those  lurs  and  things.      What  do  you  mean,  sir? 

Oh,  you  dear,  dear  boy!"     At  this  point  Miss  Ruth's 

feelings  so  completely  overcame  her  that  she  sat  down 

on  a  convenient  log  and  burst  into  hvsterical  weepin-. 
"Thei-e,  you  young  scamp  !"  cried  Mr.  Rvder,  who."e 

own  eyes  were  full  of  joyful  tears  at  thit  moment. 

"See  what  you  have  done!     Aren't  you  ashamed  of 

yourself,  sir  ?" 

"Yes,  ])op,  awfully.  IJut  I've  got  something  that 
will  cheer  her  up  and  amuse  her.  And  here's^  Ser<^c 
and—  Xo  he  isn't,  either.  What  has  become  of 
Serge  ?  Oh,  I  suppose  he  has  gone  home.  Don't  sec 
why^he  need  be  in  such  a  hurry,  though.  Xo  matter; 
here's  Jalap  C'oombs.  You  remember  Jalap,  father^ 
And  liere.  Aunt  Ruth,  is  the  curio  T  ])romised  to  brin<' 
you  from  Alaska.     Look  out ;  it's  alive  !"  "^ 

With  this  the  crazy  lad  snatched  Nel-t(>  from  the 
arms  of  Jalap  Coombs,  who  had  just  brought  him  up 
the  steps,  and  laid  him  in  Miss  Ruiir.s  lap,  s;ivii,<r,  <-  lie's 


wmrr 


270 


SNOW-SHOES    AND    SLKDGES 


!:■. 


1    ^: 

» 

li 

';?      ! 

^1 

i 

i 

: .    :  ■ 

':|^ 

1i 

n-     "  . 

';;             1 

|i:: 

5i-  i 


|:| 

I' 

'         1 

a  little  orpli.'in  kid  that  I  found  In  the  wilderness,  and 
adopted  lor  you  to  love." 

."Miss  Ruth  i^avc  such  a  start  as  t]w  small  bundle  of 
fur  was  so  unex])ectedly  thrust  at  liei"  that  poor  Nel-te 
I'olled  to  the;  ground.  I'^roui  there  he  lifted  sueh  a 
pitifully  friLjhtened  little  face,  with  sueli  ti-ar-lillcd 
eyes  and  (juiverini^  lips,  that  ]\[iss  Ruth  snatched  him 
up  and  hugged  him.  Then  she  kissed  and  petted  him 
to  such  an  extent  that  by  the  time  he  was  again  smil- 
ing lie  had  won  a  place  in  lier  loving  heart  second  ordy 
to  that  occupied  by  Phil  himself. 

In  the  meantime  Musky,  Luvtuk,  and  big  Amook 
were  tearing  madly  up  and  down  the  wharf,  yelping 
and  l)arking  their  joyful  recognition  of  the  fact  that 
the  long  journey,  with  its  months  of  liard  work,  was 
ended,  and  for  tliem  at  least  play-time  had  come. 

With  this  journey's  end  also  came  the  partings  that 
always  form  so  sad  a  feature  of  all  journeys'  ends. 
Even  the  three  dogs  that  Jiad  travelled  together  for  so 
long  were  separated,  ^fusky  being  given  to  Serge, 
Luvtuk  to  May  Matthews,  to  become  the  pet  of  the 
Phoca's  crew,  and  big  Amook  going  with  Phil,  Aunt 
Ruth,  Xel-te,  the  sledge,  the  snow-shoes,  and  the  beau- 
tiful white,  thick-furred  skin  of  a  mountain  goat  to 
distant  New  London, 

3rr.  l^yder  and  Jalap  Coombs  accomj)anied  them  as 
far  as  San  Francisco.  Dear  oM  Serge  was  reluctantly 
left  behind,  busily  making  pre{)arations  to  carry  out 
his  cherished  scheme  of  returninsc  to  Anvik  as  a 
teacher. 

In  San  Francisco  Mr.  Ryder  secured  for  Jalap 
Coombs  the  command  of  a  trading  schooner  plying 
between  that  port  and  Honolulu.  When  it  Avas  an- 
nounced to  him  that  he  was  at  last  actually  a  captain, 
the  honest  fellow's  voice  trembled  with  emotion  as  he 
answered: 


i; 


niGss,  and 

binidlo  of 
:)()!•  Nol-to 
)(1  siicli  a 
tcar-lillcd 
tclu'd  him 
ettod  him 
gain  smil- 
cond  only 

g  Aniook 
f,  yelj)ing 
fact  that 
work,  Avas 
omc. 

tini«s  til  at 
eys'  ends, 
her  for  so 
to  Sorge, 
)et  of  tlic 
'liil,  Annt 
tho  boau- 
1  goat   to 

1  tlioni  as 
ihu'tantly 
carry  ont 
ivik    as   a 

for  Jalap 
er  plying 
fc  was  an- 
a  captain, 
iion  as  he 


IN  SITKA  Town 


271 


"Mr.  IJy.lcr,  sir,  and  Phil,  I  never  did  wholly  look 
to  be  a  full-rigged  cap'n,  though  I've  striv  and  waited 
for  tho  berth  nigh  on  to  forty  year.  Now  I  know  that 
it's  jest  as  my  old  friend  Kite  Jloberson  useter  say;  for 
he  alius  said,  Kite  did,  that  'Them  as  waits  the  pa- 
lientest  is  bound  to  see  things  happen.'  " 


THE    liND 


Ffitf^f!*- 


i 
„  i 

l!u{ 


I ' 


•  rl 


ll 

l' . 
'J 

if 

r 

1 

\ 

*     1              1 

-I    i  . 

■h 

<  I 

1   s 

t  ff 

1  1 

i'^ 

1  ' 

'^ 

1 

Ll 

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